Following the American Civil War, significant political changes took shape in the United States. The most profound were the abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment and the establishment of citizenship and voting rights for African Americans via the 14th and 15th Amendments. The power of the federal government increased, particularly with Reconstruction policies aiming to integrate the South back into the Union while ensuring civil rights for the formerly enslaved. These changes laid the groundwork for future civil rights movements and shifted the political landscape as new social dynamics emerged, ultimately altering American democracy and society for generations.