Reconstruction begins in the South, with most of the damage having been done in Virginia, Texas, and Louisiana, whereas the rest of the South was fairly untouched by the war. The hope is that the states will be able to function soon as they had before the war.
The Emancipation Proclamation is turned into law as it becomes the 13th Amendment and now extends to now-ex-slaves. Slave labor and the slave trade in the United States have come to an end. Many blacks continue on in the South as sharecroppers, while many others make their way to the less tribal Northern states.
The 14th Amendments officially gives all former slaves American citizenship, overruling the Dredd Scott decision.
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution is passed, allowing black men to vote, serve on juries, and hold office. Groups which intend to intimidate and harass black voters to stop them from voting (such as the kool kids klub) will not be tolerated.
Literacy tests are also voted as discriminatory.
The Freedmen's Bureau works on supplying newly freed slaves as well as white southern refugees with food, clothing, education, and living quarters until they can get back on their feet. The Freedmen's Bureau Act solidifies the rights for black Americans to bear arms to protect against future Southern laws.
Liberal democracy prevails.
