Reconstruction (1865-1877) Flashcards
Define Reconstruction and its goals
the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, and labor systems.
Impact of the Civil War on the South.
War action around their homes created many hardships for Southerners. The hardships increased or intensified for other reasons as well. As an agricultural region, the South had more difficulty than the North in manufacturing needed goods–for both its soldiers and its civilians.
Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan.
President Lincoln proposed a reconstruction program that would allow Confederate states to establish new state governments after 10 percent of their male population took loyalty oaths and the states recognized the permanent freedom of formerly enslaved people.
Andrew Johnson’s approach
Andrew Johnson’s view, as stated above, was that the war had been fought to preserve the Union. He formulated a lenient plan, based on Lincoln’s earlier 10% plan, to allow the Southern states to begin holding elections and sending representatives back to Washington.
Freedmen’s Bureau.
provided assistance of formerly enslaved people and impoverished whites in the Southern States and the District of Columbia in the years following the war. It helped freed people establish schools, purchase land, locate family members, and legalize marriages.
Reconstruction Acts of 1867
it outlined the terms for readmission to representation of rebel states. The bill divided the former Confederate states, except for Tennessee, into five military districts.
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson.
the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution to impeach Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, for “high crimes and misdemeanors”.
Civil Rights Act of 1866
declared all persons born in the United States to be citizens, “without distinction of race or color, or previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude.”
14th Amendment.
Fourteenth Amendment granted citizenship to all persons “born or naturalized in the United States,” including formerly enslaved people, and provided all citizens with “equal protection under the laws,”
Emancipation.
After the passage of the national Civil Rights Act of 1875, many African Americans exercised their new freedom in railroad cars, steamboats, hotels, theaters, and other public venues.
Jim Crow laws.
Jim Crow laws were any state or local laws that enforced or legalized racial segregation.
Black codes
Black Codes restricted black people’s right to own property, conduct business, buy and lease land, and move freely through public spaces
Rise of African American political power.
The Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave the vote to all male citizens regardless of color or previous condition of servitude.
