5. The Civil War and Reconstruction Flashcards
Pre-1861
Growing economic and political disparities between the North and South, primarily centered on the issue of slavery and states’ rights, leading to increasing tensions. The idea of “Slave Power” conspiracy takes hold in the North and contributes to the abolitionist movement.
Abraham Lincoln is elected President
1861:Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United States, triggering the secession of South Carolina.
Other Southern states follow, forming the Confederate States of America (CSA).
Jefferson Davis is elected President of the CSA.
The American Civil War begins.
Civil War
1861-1865: The Civil War rages between the Union (North) and the Confederacy (South). Key battles include Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Antietam. The conflict sees widespread bloodshed and immense social and economic upheaval.
Emancipation Proclamation
1863:Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slaves in Confederate-held territory free, making the abolition of slavery a central war aim and enabling the recruitment of black soldiers into the Union Army.
Ending of the Civil War
April 1865:Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a Southern sympathizer.
Andrew Johnson, Lincoln’s Vice President, becomes President.
Presidential Reconstruction under Andrew Johnson:
1865-1867: Presidential Reconstruction under Andrew Johnson:
Johnson implements lenient policies towards the South, granting pardons to many former Confederates.
Southern states pass “Black Codes,” severely restricting the rights of freed slaves.
13th Amendment
1865: 13th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, abolishing slavery.
Ku Klux Klan (KKK)
1866: Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is founded in Tennessee by Confederate veterans.
Congressional (Radical) Reconstruction
1867-1877: Congressional (Radical) Reconstruction:
Radical Republicans in Congress take control of Reconstruction due to Johnson’s policies, implementing stricter measures to protect Black rights.
Military districts are established in the South.
Black men are enfranchised and actively participate in politics; African Americans are elected to state legislatures.
Freedmen’s Bureau is established to help freed slaves.
14th Amendment
1868: 14th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the US and guaranteeing equal protection under the law.
15th Amendment
1870: 15th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, prohibiting the denial of voting rights based on race.
Civil Rights Act
1875: Civil Rights Act of 1875 is passed, guaranteeing equal rights in public places.
Compromise
1877: Compromise of 1877: Federal troops are removed from the South in exchange for Rutherford B. Hayes becoming President, effectively ending Reconstruction. This leads to the rapid erosion of Black rights in the South.
Post-1877
Rise of Jim Crow laws institutionalizing racial segregation and disenfranchising African Americans.
The KKK engages in violence and intimidation to suppress Black voters and maintain white supremacy.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) upholds the concept of “separate but equal,” further entrenching segregation.
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Supreme Court’s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) upholds the concept of “separate but equal,” further entrenching segregation.
Ku Klux Klan is revived
1915: Ku Klux Klan is revived in Georgia.
Long-term Impact:Systemic racism becomes entrenched in American institutions and societal structures.
Economic inequality between Black and white communities continues.
African American culture flourishes despite facing adversity.
The Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century arises as a response to the failures of Reconstruction and continued racial oppression.
Abraham Lincoln:
16th President of the United States (1861-1865). His primary goal at the beginning of the Civil War was to preserve the Union, but he issued the Emancipation Proclamation as a measure to weaken the Confederacy. He was assassinated by a Southern sympathizer in 1865.
Jefferson Davis:
President of the Confederate States of America (CSA). He led the Confederacy in its fight to secede from the Union and preserve slavery.
Robert E. Lee:
Confederate General who surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, marking the end of the Civil War.
Ulysses S. Grant:
Union General who received the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House
Andrew Johnson:
17th President of the United States (1865-1869). Lincoln’s Vice President who became President after Lincoln’s assassination. His lenient Reconstruction policies towards the South were deemed inadequate by Radical Republicans, leading to conflicts with Congress. He was seen as a champion and friend of the South. He was impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate.
John Wilkes Booth:
Southern sympathizer and actor who assassinated Abraham Lincoln. He shouted “Sic semper tyrannis” after the murder.
Radical Republicans:
A faction of the Republican Party in Congress that advocated for stricter measures to protect Black rights during Reconstruction. They clashed with Andrew Johnson over Reconstruction policies.
“Bourbons”
The term used for Southern Democrats who aimed to restore white supremacy and traditional social hierarchies in the South.
Black Soldiers:
African Americans who fought for the Union during the Civil War. They viewed the war as a fight for their freedom and played a critical role in the war’s outcome.
