Chapter 16 Review Flashcards
Who was responsible for assassinating Abraham Lincoln?
John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth was a famous actor and Confederate sympathizer who shot Lincoln in April 1865.
What term describes an enslaved person who had been freed by the Civil War?
freedman
Freedmen were individuals who gained their freedom as a result of the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation.
What was the primary goal of the Freedmen’s Bureau?
To help with the needs of freedmen
The Freedmen’s Bureau provided emergency relief, education, and resolved disputes between blacks and whites.
What was Abraham Lincoln’s Reconstruction plan known as?
The Ten Percent Plan
The Ten Percent Plan allowed a state to form a new government once 10% of its voters pledged loyalty to the Union.
How did Lincoln’s Reconstruction plan differ from that of the Radical Republicans?
Lincoln’s plan was more lenient; he required only 10% loyalty, while Radical Republicans wanted at least 50%
This difference highlighted the contrasting approaches to reintegrating the Southern states.
Who became president after Lincoln was assassinated?
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was a Southern Democrat who took office following Lincoln’s death.
What did many expect from Andrew Johnson regarding Reconstruction?
A strict approach to Reconstruction
Given his background as a Southern Democrat, many thought he would align with the Radical Republicans.
Fill in the blank: The process of bringing the North and South together again is known as _______.
Reconstruction
Reconstruction aimed to rebuild the nation after the Civil War.
Why did the South face greater difficulties in recovering from the Civil War compared to the North?
The war was fought mainly in the South, destroying homes, cities, and livelihoods
The North remained largely untouched, making recovery easier for them.
What was the purpose of amnesty in the context of Reconstruction?
To provide a group pardon
Amnesty aimed to facilitate the reintegration of Southern states by forgiving those who had participated in the Confederacy.
What type of relief did the Freedmen’s Bureau provide?
Emergency relief
They assisted people displaced by the war, providing supplies and support for education.
True or False: The North’s economy was more severely impacted by the Civil War than the South’s.
False
The North’s economy was less affected due to the war primarily being fought in the South.
What was one of the urgent needs of the people of Richmond, Virginia after the Civil War?
Rebuilding buildings and houses
The destruction caused by the war left many homes and structures in ruins, making reconstruction essential.
What was the second most urgent need for the people of Richmond?
Rebuilding the economy
A stable economy was crucial for accessibility to goods and the overall recovery of the community.
What did the Thirteenth Amendment accomplish?
Abolished slavery throughout the nation and banned forced labor
It also gave Congress the power to make laws and enforce its terms.
When was the Thirteenth Amendment ratified?
December 6, 1865
What is a major provision of the Fourteenth Amendment?
Granted citizenship to formerly enslaved people
It also protected the liberties of existing citizens of the United States
When was the Fourteenth Amendment ratified?
July 9, 1868
What does the Fifteenth Amendment provide?
Grants the right to vote for all male citizens, regardless of ethnicity or former slave status
When was the Fifteenth Amendment ratified?
February 3, 1870
Fill in the blank: The Thirteenth Amendment banned both slavery and _______.
forced labor
What are black codes?
Laws used by southern states to control African Americans
Black codes restricted the rights and freedoms of African Americans after the Civil War.
What term describes southern whites who opposed secession and supported the Republican party?
Scalawag
Scalawags were often seen as traitors by other southerners.
What term describes northern whites who went south to start businesses or pursue political office?
Carpetbagger
Carpetbaggers were often perceived as opportunists by southern locals.
What does impeachment refer to?
The bringing of formal charges against a public official
Impeachment is a political process, not a criminal one.
Who was Hiram Revels?
He was one of the first African Americans elected to the US Senate
Revels served in the Senate from Mississippi.
Who was Blanche Bruce?
He was one of the first African Americans elected to the US Senate
Bruce served in the Senate from Mississippi and was notable for his leadership.
How did Congress respond to President Johnson’s plan for Reconstruction?
They strongly opposed (rejected) it because they saw it as too lenient toward the former Confederate states
Congress felt Johnson’s plan allowed Southern states to rejoin the Union too easily.
What did the Fourteenth Amendment seek to protect?
It stated that all people born or naturalized in the United States are citizens and that states may not pass laws that take away a citizen’s rights
This amendment aimed to ensure citizenship and legal protections for African Americans.
What was the purpose of the Reconstruction Act of 1867?
It removed the governments of all southern states that had refused to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment and imposed military rule
The Act divided the states into five districts and required new constitutions.
How did some southerners respond to being shut out of power during Reconstruction?
Some southerners resorted to violence and created secret societies to terrorize African Americans and their white allies
The Ku Klux Klan was the most notable of these societies.
True or False: The Ku Klux Klan was formed in 1866 to support Reconstruction.
False
The Klan was formed to fight against Reconstruction, help the Democratic Party regain power, and drive out Northern Carpetbaggers
What did the 13th Amendment to the Constitution accomplish?
It abolished slavery
The 13th Amendment was a significant step in ending slavery in the United States.
In response to slavery being abolished, what did southern whites turn to?
Black Codes
What rights did the Civil Rights Act of 1866 grant?
Citizenship rights to African Americans
Congress passed this because they were alarmed at the treatment of African Americans in the South
What was the purpose of the 14th Amendment?
It made the Civil Rights Act part of the Constitution and overturned the Dred Scott decision
Congress feared that the Supreme Court would strike the Civil Rights Act down, so they passed the 14th Amendment
What did the Reconstruction Act of 1867 accomplish?
It removed governments of southern states refusing to ratify the 14th Amendment
This act was a key component of Radical Reconstruction.
How many military districts were established by the Reconstruction Act?
Five districts where the army was in charge
These districts were created to oversee the reconstruction of the southern states.
What was required of southern states under military watch before returning to the Union?
- Write a new constitution
- Ratify the 14th Amendment
- Allow African Americans to vote
These requirements were part of the conditions for re-admittance into the Union.
What did the 15th Amendment prohibit?
Denying African American males the right to vote
The 15th Amendment aimed to protect voting rights for African American men.
What criticisms were directed towards the 15th Amendment?
It was considered too weak for not preventing property or tax requirements for voters
Critics argued that the amendment did not fully guarantee voting rights.
Which Civil War Amendments are believed to be the most important?
the 13th and 14th Amendments
The 14th Amendment is often viewed as the most crucial for granting citizenship and equal rights, while the 13th Amendment freed over four million slaves.
Fill in the blank: The _______ Amendment abolished slavery.
13th
The 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865.
Fill in the blank: The _______ Act of 1866 granted citizenship rights to African Americans.
Civil Rights
This act was a response to the Civil War and aimed to protect African Americans’ rights.
Fill in the blank: The _______ Amendment was ratified to prevent states from denying African American males the right to vote.
15th
The 15th Amendment was crucial in the fight for African American voting rights.
What began the period known as Radical Reconstruction?
When the Radical Republicans gained control of Congress
What is a poll tax?
A personal tax to be paid before voting
Poll taxes were used as a means to restrict voting rights, particularly among African Americans and poor individuals.
What is a literacy test?
A test to see if a person can read and write
Literacy tests were often used to disenfranchise African American voters.
What is a grandfather clause?
A provision that allowed a voter to avoid a literacy test if his father or grandfather had been eligible to vote
Grandfather clauses were used to exempt white voters from literacy tests while disenfranchising Black voters.
What does segregation refer to?
The enforced separation of different racial groups
Segregation laws were widespread in the South and upheld by the Supreme Court.
Who was Homer Plessy?
His arrest led to an infamous Supreme Court case which established the ‘separate but equal’ rule
In 1892, Homer Plessy, seven-eighths white, seated himself in the whites-only car and was arrested. He argued that Lousiana’s laws violated his Constitutional rights.
What is the name of a laborer who works the land for the farmer who owns it, in exchange for a share of the value of the crop?
a sharecropper
Sharecropping often led to cycles of debt for African American families.
What was the outcome of the Plessy v. Ferguson case?
The Court ruled in favor of a Louisiana law requiring segregated railroad cars
This ruling established the legal precedent for segregation under the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine.
What event contributed to the end of Reconstruction?
The presidential election of 1876
There was a dispute for presidency decided by Congress, who chose Rutherford B. Hayes to be the running president since Hayes promised he would remove all federal troops from the South
Fill in the blank: The ‘New South’ was based on _______.
new industrial growth
The New South aimed to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on agriculture
True or False: The ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson made it easier for African Americans to challenge segregation laws.
False
The ruling legitimized segregation and made it difficult for African Americans to contest discriminatory laws.
What was a significant challenge faced by sharecroppers?
Their share was often not enough to cover what they owed the landlord for rent and supplies
This economic system often trapped sharecroppers in a cycle of debt.
Who was elected in the presidential election of 1876?
Rutherford B. Hayes
As a result of the ‘New South’, what types of industries started popping up?
- Mills
- Factories
Many investors started to expand industries to turn raw materials into finished products
What laws did Southern states pass to prevent African Americans from voting?
- Poll tax
- Literacy test
- Grandfather clause
These laws were designed to restrict voting rights and maintain white supremacy in the South.
What laws enforced segregation in the Southern states?
Jim Crow laws
These laws mandated racial segregation in all public facilities.
Most rural freedmen became _______.
sharecroppers
Sharecroppers were dependent on _______ and ________ for their livelihood.
good harvests, crop prices
Poor harvests or low crop prices could lead to financial ruin for sharecroppers.
What happened to opportunities for urban African Americans after Reconstruction?
they declined
Skilled labor jobs were often closed to African Americans.
Support for Radical Republicans declined as many people called for…
withdrawal of troops from the South and full amnesty of former Confederates
This shift in public sentiment marked the end of Reconstruction.
During the disputed election of 1876, which party vowed to end Reconstruction?
Democrats
This led to the removal of all troops from the South.
In the South, investors started or expanded industries to turn __________ into finished goods.
raw materials
What resources did new mills and factories in the South utilize?
Iron, timber, and oil
These resources were crucial for industrial growth in the region.
True or false: The textile industry came to play an important role in the southern economy.
True
Due to the abundance of cotton and other crops, along with the new machinery being widespread, the South’s textile industry was up and running faster than ever before
During Ulysees S. Grant’s presidency, what was the big issue with his administration?
he displayed signs of nepotism
Although nepotism was legally unrestricted at the time, it was prevalent in the Ulysees S. Grant administration, with over 40 family members benefiting from government appointments and employment
The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are also known as what?
The Reconstruction Amendments
