After the American Civil War, the situation of blacks is still very difficult. In order to improve their social status, black Americans began a hard struggle for equal universal suffrage. Despite the pressure, the U.S. Congress passed the amendments to Articles 13, 14 and 15 of the Constitution in 1865, 1868 and 170 respectively, giving blacks freedom, citizenship and the right to vote. However, American states are still restricting the participation of blacks through specific election additional clauses, and blacks are still unable to obtain equal status with whites and are still discriminated against everywhere. But on the whole, this period is still a milestone in the history of African American reform.