One of the most effective ideas from the Reconstruction era was the establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau in 1865. This agency provided essential services such as education, legal assistance, and healthcare to newly freed African Americans, facilitating their transition into society and helping to counteract the systemic disadvantages they faced.
On the other hand, the approach to land redistribution, particularly the notion of "forty acres and a mule," was not adequately implemented and should have been revised. Instead of merely suggesting land grants, a more robust federal program could have been developed to secure land ownership for freed people, including support for sustainable farming practices and access to markets. This would have laid a stronger foundation for economic independence and stability within the African American community.