civil war and post war aftermath Flashcards
what was the background to the outbreak of the civil war?
fought over the moral issue of slavery- south needed slaves for economic prosperity whereas north were more industrial and no longer needed them.
what were Lincoln’s views?
at first he beliveded that iif slavery was contained in south it would end eventually.
what was the emancipation proclamation?
abolished slavery and freed black people
impact of emancipation proclamation?
political and military tactics, freed black people
what was the 13th, 14th and 15th amendment?
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery. The 14th Amendment gave citizenship to all people born in the US. The 15th Amendment gave Black Americans the right to vote.
outcome of proclamation and 13th amendment
black people could now:
- plantation marriages legalised
-worship freely
-own property
-become educated
-travel freely
situation in south 1865
southern states were devastated everything was broken down and law and order hadn’t been restored. slavery was imperative for the southern economy, the removal it meant that people had to drastically change their way of life.
The civil rights act of 1866
AA’s and other races, except from native Americans were full citizens even if they were previously slaves.
what was reconstruction?
march 1867, congress passed military reconstruction act, divided south into military districts.
who was responsible for reconstruction party?
radicals of republican party, Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens acknowledged blacks played vital part of economy and must have full citizenship.
what wee presidents Johnsons views and aims and how did others react to it?
wanted to re-admit southern states to union and wanted to return to pre-war relations, Stevens and Sumner felt that reconstruction should be controlled by north as they feared if Johnsons policy was followed by white southerners it would led to detriment of AA.
what did radical republicans want?
all people had right to live out ‘the american dream’ and this should be promoted to former slaves. the right to an education, vote, own land and legal equality. wasn’t extended to black women as much as black men
why did Johnson issue many pardons to southern rebels?
so influential rich planters were able to reassert their authority, insisted on south ratifying the aboltion of slavery, he said nothing on rights of freed slaves therefore allowing to south to develop black codes.
why did president Johnson flop?
Johnson couldn’t prevent passing of any constitutional amendments, he exercised his presidential rights of veto on all major pieces of congressional legislation. Vetos were overridden with two thirds majorities in congress, battle between congress and president led to his impeachment; failed but weakened Johnson politically and remained president quietly. therefore reconstruction could continue in the way that radical republicans wanted.
what was the freedmans beuareu
set up by federal government in 1865 to support freed slaves in the short term and provide basis for long term secuurity
why did it flop and impact
decline of radical republicanism congress wouldnt renew its mandate and beaureau closed in 1872.sign that north was losing its enthusiasim for constant interference with south
what were black codes
southern legislatures determined to keep blacks in an inferior position.
what were the regulations of black codes
Mississippi and South Carolina enacted the first black codes. Mississippi’s law required Black people to have written evidence of employment for the coming year each January; if they left before the end of the contract, they would be forced to forfeit earlier wages and were subject to arrest.In South Carolina, a law prohibited Black people from holding any occupation other than farmer or servant unless they paid an annual tax of $10 to $100. This provision hit free Black people already living in Charleston and former slave artisans especially hard. In both states, Black people were given heavy penalties for vagrancy, including forced plantation labor in some cases.
what was the impact of black codes
codes violated the fundamental principles of free labor ideology.white southerners showed a steadfast commitment to ensuring their supremacy and the survival of plantation agriculture in the postwar years
what were the aims of Klu Klux Klan
founded in 1865, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) extended into almost every southern state by 1870 and became a vehicle for white southern resistance to the Republican Party’s Reconstruction-era policies aimed at establishing political and economic equality for Black Americans. Its members waged an underground campaign of intimidation and violence directed at white and Black Republican leaders.
