Spring and Perennial Reconstruction

The Reconstruction era after the Civil War was a period of important and unprecedented social change in America. Three major changes to the U.S. Constitution — the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, known as the Reconstruction Amendments — ended slavery and gave full citizenship and voting rights regardless of race. Southern states rewrote their constitutions and soon Black men were elected to office throughout the South. African Americans gained access to education and the University of South Carolina was fully integrated. In 1873 Henry Hayne enrolled as the University’s first Black student and Richard T. Greener was hired as its first Black professor. Black women attended the Normal School on campus to train as teachers. But it was not to last. The period known as Reconstruction came to a close in 1877 and many of the advances made were eroded. The fight for equal civil rights in the 20th century made progress but much work remains unfinished…