The Reconstruction Era was a tumultuous time in the history of the United States. The Union victory in the Civil War in 1865 granted freedom to African American slaves. During this period, it appeared that freed slaves would successfully assimilate socially and politically into American society. There were many great achievements of Congressional Reconstruction, but once Reconstruction failed, many educated former slaves proposed several ideas to help African Americans survive in a racially intolerant South. The best outcome of Congressional Reconstruction was the right to vote for any male citizen. In February 1869, Congress passed the 15th Amendment, which indicated that a citizen of the United States possessed the right to vote and this right could not be denied on the basis of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. However, Reconstruction came to an end and radical groups emerged that posed a threat to African Americans. Enlightened black citizens like Booker T. Washington suggested that African Americans needed to educate themselves to the best of their ability to survive in a racially intolerant South. The Reconstruction era refers to the period of United States history during the period following the Civil War. Although the Civil War ended, the Reconstruction period was similar to a war because Northerners and Southerners had conflicting beliefs and lifestyles. Slavery was abolished at the end of the Civil War, and three major constitutional changes were made during the Reconstruction era. The Reconstruction era was a time of many changes and enormous difficulties. The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery throughout the United States and its territories, the Fourteenth Amendment protected any male citizen regardless of race, color, or previous status of servitude, and the Fifteenth Amendment guaranteed African American males the right to vote. Although massive legislative and policy changes have been made, American society has been slow to accept these changes. Many southern and racist Americans found these new changes difficult to accept and thus it was difficult to enforce these new rules. The Reconstruction era ushered in great changes but also provided new obstacles for freed slaves. The greatest and most lasting legacy of Congressional Reconstruction was the Fifteenth Amendment in which every male citizen was granted the right to vote; regardless of race or previous status of servitude. It initially appeared that freed slaves would be successfully incorporated into American society. This was a great and lasting change because it allowed freed slaves to begin assimilating into American society. Booker T. Washington said, “…it is the duty of the Negro—as the greater part of the race is already doing—to behave modestly in regard to political claims, according to the slow but sure influences which proceed from the possession of property, intelligence, and high character for the full recognition of his political rights. I think respecting the full exercise of political rights will be a matter of natural and slow growth, not an overnight affair.” the company would take a long time. He illustrated that it was a necessary step for freed slaves to learn to govern themselves successfully and make wise decisions when he said, “…for a man cannot learn the exercise of self-government by ceasing to vote, any more than, 1989.