After the Civil War, the United States faced its most difficult question yet: how do you rebuild a country that just tried to destroy itself? In this episode, we explore the highs and heartbreaks of Reconstruction — from the promise of freedom and the rise of Black political power to the backlash of Black Codes, the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, and the legal defeat in Plessy v. Ferguson. Discover how this short, revolutionary period shaped America’s future — and why its legacy still matters today.