Black officeholders during Reconstruction

A) were extremely rare.
B) were entirely carpetbaggers and scalawags.
C) helped ensure a degree of fairness for African-American citizens.
D) were limited to local offices.
E) demonstrated that whites had lost all of their political power in the South.

Black Officeholders

Refers to African American individuals who hold public office, which has historically marked significant progress in political representation and civil rights.

Reconstruction

The period following the Civil War (1865-1877) during which the United States made efforts to reintegrate Southern states into the Union and redefine the legal status of African Americans.

Carpetbaggers

A term used derogatorily for Northerners who moved to the South after the Civil War, seeking personal gain or to assist in Reconstruction efforts.