 During the Reconstruction Era, the emancipated African Americans, freedmen, began to strive for civic participation, political equality and economic and cultural self-determination.Soon after the end of the Civil War the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 gave rise to speeches by African-American Congressmen addressing this Bill.By 1875 sixteen African Americans had been elected and served in Congress and gave numerous speeches with their newfound civil empowerment.