In terms of political power, African Americans in the south during reconstruction

Even though African Americans were now free after the Civil War, they faced more obstacles. Though they were given the right to vote and some were even elected into government positions in the South, a violent backlash by whites reversed the reforms that were made and this resulted in the restoration of white supremacy in the South. Harassment from groups such as the Klu Klux Klan kept African Americans from exercising their rights and they were looked upon as inferior by whites. It would take another 100 years before African Americans could attain equality.