Answer:
a.
increased significantly during Congressional Reconstruction but declined soon after
Explanation:
After the American Civil War, some constitutional amendments generalized into the congressional reconstruction was adopted. This was initially meant to be used to put harsh treatment on the southern states but President Lincoln was hesistent about that. Rather, amendments were made to improve the Civil rights of poor white Americans and African Americans. Over time as more southerners got into congress, some of these laws were slowly changed and some of these rights (rights to vote and land holding rights especially) were slowly taken away.
