The positive changes occurred for blacks during the reconstruction years were they were no longer slaves. They have given a privilege to own a land and be heard, the African-Americans after the civil war has a valuable experience in government, commerce, and society that helped later.
The Reconstruction Era was a time of radical change for the United States. In terms of Black people, their lives were significantly altered. The most obvious change that preceded this era was the abolition of slavery. However, this was not the only difference. The implementation of the Freedmen's Bureau provided help for African Americans transitioning from slavery to freedom. Moreover, the Fourteenth Amendment and the Civil Rights Act gave them protection under the law.
In terms of the actions that diminished the gains of black people, we find the Black Codes. These were laws that required African Americans to sign yearly labour contracts in an attempt to limit their economic opportunities. Moreover, the rise of white supremacy groups such as the Ku Klux Klan made the implementation of positive laws difficult.
