Were freedmen truly free during reconstruction

Yes and no, while slaves were freed from their bondage of slavery, there were still many hardships left for them. Racial prejudice was still rampant as people still saw African Americans as lesser beings. Many of them could not read or write and therefore not get a job. Many freed slaves were still bound to the land they worked as they did not have the money to go anywhere else.

necessary and proper clause. the congress shall have power to all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this constitution in the government of the united states, or in any department or officer thereof.