Reconstruction was a 12-year period after the Civil War when the U.S. tried to rebuild and reunite the country. West Virginia's experience was different from other Southern states because it had become a Union state during the war. Like border states such as Kentucky and Maryland, West Virginia avoided the harshest Reconstruction policies but still faced tension between Union and Confederate supporters. Instead of outsiders, local leaders pushed for changes such as public schools, fairer taxes, and ending the old Virginia-controlled court system. To protect the new state from potential rebellion, former Confederates were blocked from voting unless they swore loyalty to the Union. These rules helped Republicans stay in power but didn’t lead to real progress for African Americans, who remained second-class citizens. By 1870, voting restrictions were lifted, Black men received the right to vote, and Democrats regained power. While some Reconstruction efforts faded, West Virginia kept reforms like public schools and the secret ballot, and began to shift toward a more industrial future.