The history of post-Civil War Reconstruction wasn't written by the winners. Congress forced Reconstruction on an unrepentant South steeped in resentment and hatred, where the old guard and old attitudes still held sway, murder and depredations against freed slaves and sympathizers were rampant, and "black laws" swapped the physical bonds of slavery for legislative ones. During Reconstruction, talented black leaders rose to serve in Congress and in state and local governments. Blacks and whites struggled together to secure the rights of millions of freed slaves, now citizens, and to heal the wounds of a shattered nation. Many Reconstruction figures have been misrepresented, dismissed, or simply forgotten. These biographical sketches profile 16 diverse men and women whose Reconstruction efforts should not be overlooked.