During Reconstruction, 16 African American men were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, which is the lower branch of the United States Congress. This period, roughly from 1865 to 1877, saw a significant increase in political participation by African Americans in the Southern states, as well as the passage of civil rights legislation and efforts to rebuild the South after the Civil War. The election of African American representatives marked a notable shift in political dynamics during this era.