Because people during the reconstruction were fighting due to slavery (the civil war) or the rights of african americans. The civil right movement was like a continuation or amendment of that reconstruction era to guarantee people of all races the same rights and abolish racial segregation; this actually never came to light when slavery was abolished and the reconstruction era ended.
There are many things. Women couldn't vote, so they had no choice in government. They couldn't get the same jobs as men, so if you were a woman, you had to rely on your husband.
