The role of the US Government Flashcards
What was the role of the federal government in the post-Civil War period regarding African American Civil Rights?
The federal government, particularly during the Reconstruction period (1865-1877), attempted to secure rights for African Americans through constitutional amendments and federal legislation, though it faced significant opposition from Southern states.
What were the key amendments passed during Reconstruction to benefit African Americans?
The 13th Amendment (1865) abolished slavery; the 14th Amendment (1868) granted citizenship and equal protection under the law; and the 15th Amendment (1870) granted voting rights to African American men.
What was the significance of the Civil Rights Act of 1866?
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 granted citizenship to all persons born in the U.S. (except Native Americans) and sought to protect the rights of African Americans, particularly by prohibiting racial discrimination in public accommodations.
What was the Freedmen’s Bureau, and how did it affect African American rights?
The Freedmen’s Bureau, established in 1865, provided assistance to former slaves, offering food, medical care, legal aid, and education. It was crucial for helping African Americans transition to freedom but faced resistance in the South.
How did Southern states respond to the federal government’s Reconstruction policies?
Many Southern states enacted Black Codes, laws that severely limited the rights and freedoms of African Americans, attempting to maintain a labor system similar to slavery.
What was the significance of the Reconstruction Acts of 1867?
The Reconstruction Acts divided the South into military districts and required states to draft new constitutions that guaranteed African American men the right to vote, pushing forward the rights of African Americans during Reconstruction.
How did the Supreme Court impact African American Civil Rights in the late 19th century?
The Supreme Court made several rulings, such as Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which upheld segregation under the doctrine of “separate but equal,” reinforcing racial discrimination for decades.
What was the significance of the Plessy v. Ferguson decision?
The Plessy v. Ferguson decision legalized racial segregation in public facilities, establishing the “separate but equal” doctrine that upheld segregation and contributed to systemic racism for decades.
How did the federal government’s approach to African American rights shift in the early 20th century?
After the Reconstruction period, the federal government largely took a hands-off approach, allowing the South to enforce segregation and disenfranchise African Americans until the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century.
What was the role of W.E.B. Du Bois in advancing African American rights?
W.E.B. Du Bois was a key civil rights activist and co-founder of the NAACP, advocating for political, economic, and educational equality for African Americans and opposing the accommodationist views of Booker T. Washington.
How did the Great Migration impact African American rights?
The Great Migration (1916-1970) saw millions of African Americans move from the rural South to urban areas in the North, where they faced less discrimination, gained better job opportunities, and began to exert more political influence.
What was the impact of the New Deal on African Americans?
While the New Deal (1930s) provided some economic relief, many African Americans were excluded from benefits, and discrimination persisted in New Deal programs. However, it also led to the appointment of African American advisors and increased political activism.
What was the significance of Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson and setting the stage for the Civil Rights Movement.
What was the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and why was it important?
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting, particularly in the South, by banning literacy tests and other practices that disenfranchised African American voters.
What was the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark law that outlawed discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin, effectively ending segregation in public places and ensuring equal employment opportunities.
