The leaders of the country who were elected president during the Reconstruction Era, and helped to make United States History, were Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant and the end of the Reconstruction era during the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes followed by the assassination of James Garfield. The Reconstruction Era led on to the Gilded Age.

President Andrew Johnson and the Reconstruction Era: Andrew Johnson Presidency (1865-1869)
Important events in United States History during the presidency of Andrew Johnson includes the Reconstruction, 13th Amendment ratified, The Fourteenth Amendment 1866, Ku Klux Klan, The Reconstruction Acts, 1867, The Purchase of Alaska and the Impeachment of Johnson - United States History for Kids.

President Ulysses S. Grant and the Reconstruction Era: Ulysses S. Grant Presidency (1869-1873) & (1873-1877)
Important events in United States History during the presidency of Ulysses S Grant includes the Fifteenth Amendment, The Black Friday Scandal, Credit Mobilier Scandal, Whiskey Ring Scandal, Battle of Little Bighorn and the Belknap Bribery Scandal. This period is sometimes referred to as the Gilded Age.

President Rutherford Hayes and the Reconstruction Era: Rutherford Hayes Presidency (1877-1881)
Important events in United States History during the presidency of Rutherford B Hayes includes the Compromise of 1881 - End of Reconstruction, Great Railroad Strike of 1881 and Civil Service Reforms.

President James Garfield and the Gilded Age: United States History from 1866 - 1881
Important events in United States History during the presidency of James Garfield includes the assassination of the president by Charles Julius Guiteau.

The Gilded Age: United States History
The period after Reconstruction is often referred to as the 'Gilded Age'. The 'Gilded Age' was a sarcastic term coined by Mark Twain to describe the time when many acquired wealth and opulent lifestyles through bribery and corruption. These people lived a golden existence but it was merely a facade of gold paint (gild) that covered over a multitude of crime, fraud and corruption.