Reconstruction Era and Its Aftermath Flashcards
What was the Reconstruction Era?
The Reconstruction Era was the period following the American Civil War, from 1865 to 1877, when the U.S. government attempted to reintegrate Southern states and provide rights for newly freed African Americans.
The rebild of the union after the civil war from 1865 to 1877
What were the key goals of Reconstruction?
Key goals included rebuilding the South’s infrastructure and economy, establishing new state governments, determining the legal status of former slaves, and protecting the rights of African Americans.
New governmwnt, Help former slaves, and protect former slaves
What happened on April 14, 1865?
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Lincoln was assassinated
What was the impact of Lincoln’s assassination on Reconstruction?
Lincoln’s death led to Andrew Johnson becoming president, whose approach to Reconstruction differed from Lincoln’s plans.
What was the Freedmen’s Bureau?
The Freedmen’s Bureau was established in 1865 to assist former slaves and poor whites in the South by providing various forms of aid and support.
What services did the Freedmen’s Bureau offer?
Services included food and housing assistance, medical care, education and job training, legal assistance, and help reuniting separated families.
What is sharecropping?
Sharecropping was an agricultural system where landowners allowed tenants to use their land in exchange for a share of the crop yield.
What are the characteristics of sharecropping?
Tenants worked the land, landowners provided resources, crops were split, and the system often led to debt and poverty for sharecroppers.
What were the Reconstruction Amendments?
Three important amendments were the 13th (abolished slavery), 14th (granted citizenship and equal protection), and 15th (voting rights for male citizens regardless of race).
What did the 13th Amendment accomplish?
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, with an exception for punishment of crimes.
What did the 14th Amendment establish?
The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., guaranteed equal protection under the law, and prohibited states from denying due process.
What rights did the 15th Amendment grant?
The 15th Amendment granted voting rights to male citizens regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, but did not extend voting rights to women.
What were Black Codes?
Black Codes were laws passed by Southern states aimed at restricting the freedom of African Americans and maintaining white supremacy.
What are some examples of Black Codes?
Examples include limiting property ownership, restricting freedom of movement, forcing low-wage labor contracts, and prohibiting interracial marriages.
What were Jim Crow laws?
Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States, enacted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
What were key aspects of Jim Crow laws?
Key aspects included segregation in public places, restrictions on interracial relationships, unequal access to jobs and housing, and separate facilities for whites and blacks.
What was the significance of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?
This Supreme Court case upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine.
What was the outcome of the Plessy v. Ferguson case?
The Supreme Court ruled that segregation was legal as long as facilities were ‘equal’, effectively legalizing Jim Crow laws.
When was the Plessy v. Ferguson decision overturned?
The decision was not overturned until the Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954.
What does the Reconstruction Era highlight?
This period highlights the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality, which continued well into the 20th century and beyond.
