As everyone surely knows, slavery was legal in this country until the Civil War ended. In 1865 governmental leaders approved the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishing the inhumane practice.

This momentous event was followed by the Reconstruction Era, which lasted nearly a dozen years – until 1877. During that time, Congressmen and their allies enacted policies and created programs to help ex-slaves (called “freedmen” regardless of age or gender) adjust to freedom.

For example, they added two more provisions to the Constitution. The 14th Amendment (added in 1868) and the 15th (in 1...