Reconstruction was successful in several ways, but one notable success was that it raised African Americans’ expectations of their right to citizenship. During this period, many African Americans gained access to education, opportunities for employment, and the right to vote, which contributed to a greater sense of agency and expectation regarding their rights as citizens. This shift would have long-lasting implications for civil rights movements in the decades to come.
The other points mentioned, such as reestablishing cotton as a dominant economic force, healing North-South tensions, and providing lasting protection for all freed people, are more complex. The economic reliance on cotton persisted but did not lead to a broader economic prosperity for African Americans. Similarly, while there were efforts to reconcile North-South relations, lasting bitterness remained. Finally, while Reconstruction made strides toward protecting the rights of freed people, many of these protections were rolled back in the following decades, leading to systemic disenfranchisement and segregation.