Booklet 3 : American West Flashcards
What is the federal government in American politics?
This is the central government that sits in Washington DC. They have power over issues the affect the whole country like war, foreign policy, currency and trade.
What are the state governments in American politics?
These are the governments of each state. They have power over issues that affect their state such as education, public safety, death penalty and local government.
Why was federal vs state power an issue when banning slavery?
The southern states argued that the federal government did not have the power to ban slavery if the state governments did not agree.
How did the federal government ban slavery if the southern states did not agree?
The federal government passed a series of acts or laws that forced a ban on slavery.
What was the 13th Amendment?
Slavery would be banned, Congress (government in Washington) had the power to enforce this law, southern states would not be allowed back in the union if they did not agree.
The southern states introduced a series of laws after 1865 that were not equal, e.g. interracial marriage was banned. What were these called?
The Black Codes
What was the aim of the 14th Amendment passed in 1868?
All people born in the USA are citizens of the USA and the state that they live in. Citizens should have equal rights.
Why could Congress NOT force the southern states to give African Americans the vote?
Voting and elections are state powers, not federal.
What was the aim of the 15th Amendment passes in 1870?
It became illegal for voting to be denied based on race. Southern states found loopholes, like giving literacy tests to voters. Most ex slaves could not read.
What was the period directly after the war called?
Reconstruction
When was President Lincoln assassinated?
14th April 1865
Why did the new president, Andrew Johnson, pardon 13,000 Confederate soldiers?
President Johnson was hoping to get the South back into the union as soon as possible, so wanted to get supporters.
What did the Reconstruction Act of 1867 do to the South?
This law reorganised the south into 5 districts, each run by a general.
What does it mean if the President VETOES an act?
Presidents can stop an act becoming a law and force Congress to review the act. Congress can revote and overrule the President.
Why did President Johnson VETO the 14th Amendment?
President Johnson thought that the south would never agree to give ex slaves rights and would therefore refuse to re-join the union.
By what year were all the Southern states finally readmitted to the union?
1870
How did black southerners overcome the Black Codes so that they could vote?
Getting an education. If they could pass the literacy tests, they would be able to vote. Many Baptist Churches set up schools for black southerners.
Who was the first black senator in 1872?
Hiram Revels of Mississippi
How much money did slave owners lose from the abolition of slavery?
About 2 million dollars in the short term (slaves were property)
What was sharecropping?
Freed slaves could not afford to buy land, so they worked for landowners (who needed workers) in exchange for a percentage/share of the crops. They got their tools and seeds on credit.(had to be paid back)
Did sharecropping give freed slaves economic stability?
No, many spent their lives in debt to the landowner or the merchants.
Who were the EXODUSTERS?
EXODUSTERS were freed slaves that left the south and went west. Some became Homesteaders.
Did the south’s economy ever recover from the war and abolition of slavery?
No, when production of cotton and tobacco returned to pre-war levels the prices of these goods had fallen, (Europeans could get cheaper products from East Asia). The southern states are amongst the most deprived areas of the USA today.
Who were nicknamed the CARPET BAGGERS?
These were northerners who came south to take advantage of the problems. For example, they might buy up cheap farms or get contracts rebuilding the railroad that was destroyed during the war. A CARPET BAG is a large bag and Southerners used this nickname to illustrate how these people were filling their bags with riches at the south’s expense.
What was a SCALLYWAG?
This is not a nice term. White republicans that supported the Union in the war. They abused their roles in the new southern governments to make themselves money.
Name THREE improvements the republicans made to the South after the war?
State school systems for black southerners, equality before the law, rebuilt infrastructure (roads, railroad, bridges)
Why did the Republicans eventually lose support in the South by 1877? (3 reasons)
corruption (vote rigging and ballot stuffing corrupted elections), Washington was too busy to help as they were fighting the Indian Wars, KKK growing popularity
What does the KKK stand for?
Ku Klux Klan. (Ku Klux comes from the term Kuklos which means circle. Klan was added later)
When and where did the KKK start?
1866 in Tennessee
Why did the KKK wear white robes and masks?
Many important members of society were in the Klan and they wanted to hide their identity. (Judges, teachers, sheriffs etc.)
What was the aim of the KKK?
To stop equality for black southerners. They used terrorism to intimidate blacks and white supporters of equality.
What terror methods did the KKK use?
lynchings (hangings without a trial), kidnapping, murder, beatings, burning crosses on people’s yards, burning bricks through windows.
Did Washington do anything to stop the KKK?
Washington passed the Enforcement Acts which banned people wearing disguises and made it illegal to intimidate government officials, but it was hard to stop the KKK.
