3. During Reconstruction, African Americans made significant political gains and even held offices in the state government. Why were these gains only temporary?
A. The federal government reviewed the voting process and discovered that the
seats were won in corrupt elections.
B. African American legislators passed laws that limited voting rights of people who
could not read or write.
C. Public support for African Americans elected to national office dwindled as their
inexperience led to a series of bad decisions.
D. After the withdrawal of federal troops, whites returned to using violence and
intimidation to keep African Americans from voting.