Reconstruction Flashcards
Order of “categories” of Reconstruction
- Presidential Reconstruction (1865-1867)
- Congressional Reconstruction (1867-1868)
- Radical Reconstruction (1867-1877)
Lincoln’s 10% Plan (1863) *****
targets all registered voters: if 10% of S state voters take a loyalty oath and acknowledge emancipation, state will be readmitted to the union
*Andrew Johnson can pardon all Confederates from oath (excluding wealthiest planters who could apply for a pardon directly via the President)
Freedman’s Bureau (1865, extended in 1866)
founded by general Oliver Otis Howard - federal organization providing humanitarian aid (land, education, etc.) to S freedpeople
big contributor in raised literacy rates
Black Codes (1865-66 ish)
S regulations on freedpeople due to white S Confederates being in power
allowed: legalized marriage, property rights, some access to courts
denied: testifying against whites, serving in juries/state militia, voting, some job restrictions (failure to sign yearly labor contracts would lead to arrests and forced hiring by white laborers)
caused a lot of hate towards Johnson and N hate towards the S in general
Civil Rights Bill (proposed in 1866)
All people born in the U.S. are citizens; states couldn’t deprive anyone of making contracts, lawsuits, having property and personal protections
2/3 majority vote by Congress passes bill, overriding Johnson’s veto
14th Amendment (proposed/passed by Senate 1866, ratified 1868)
Birthright citizenship (like the Civil Right Bill) and due process of law
did not grant Black suffrage as a compromise between moderates/radicals
federal/constitutional obligation to protect people based on race/protect their rights
Reconstruction Act (1867)
divides S states into 5 military districts where new state governments are made
Black suffrage granted
states must ratify 14th Amendment to be readmitted
begins Radical Reconstruction period
Tenure of Office Act (1867)
bars President (Johnson) from removing officeholders without the approval of Senate
Johnson violates act, leads to his impeachment (but not removal of office) and then victory of Ulysses S. Grant in 1868
Election of 1868
Ulysses S. Grant vs. Horatio Seymour
extremely lopsided win for Grant
15th Amendment (1869, ratified in 1870)
federal and state government prohibited from denying anyone voting rights due to race
Ku Klux Klan (originated in 1866, TN - terrorizing most popular beginning in 1867 with introduction of Radicals)
secret terrorist society devoted to enacting a “reign of terror” against Black people in the south as well as white Republicans
“night raids” targeted African American homes, schools, churches
Enforcement Acts (1870/71)
3 Acts adopted by Congress decoted to outlawing terrorist societies (including KKK); allows military use against organizations
shows federal power and effectiveness in the acts’ effectiveness
Liberal Republicans (1870s)
Less radical politicians who were less worried about equal rights
N commitment to Reconstruction wanes - Liberals look to stop rise of federal/Radical authority
attack Radicals; blame S problems on Black liberation/gov’t. - leads to more waning in Reconstruction’s support
Colfax Massacre (1873)
White Democrats murder 20-80 Republican African-Americans over a disputed election
courts charge white Dems. with violations of Enforcement Acts (conspiracy to deny people their 14th Amendment acts)
**Supreme Court overturns murder convictions: 14th Amendment applies in federal protection over state gov’t. rights, not individual rights
Slaughterhouse Cases (1873)
New Orleans Butchers object to slaughterhouse monopoly - claim 14th Amendment is being violated
courts vote against: purpose of 14th was for the rights of Black people, it doesn’t apply to this purpose
