Questions and Answers
What was the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (1863)?
What did the Wade-Davis Bill (1864) require?
Who was Andrew Johnson?
17th US President who opposed radical Republicans
What was the purpose of the Freedmen's Bureau?
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What were Black Codes?
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Radical Republicans were against the abolition of slavery.
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What was the Civil Rights Act of 1866?
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Match the following terms with their definitions:
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What was the significance of the Tenure of Office Act (1867)?
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Who were the Redeemers?
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What did the Ku Klux Klan aim to achieve?
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What was the Compromise of 1877?
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Samuel J. Tilden won the 1876 presidential election.
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Study Notes
Reconstruction Era Overview
- Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (1863) initiated a political process in the South, allowing state governments to be reestablished under Unionist control.
- The Wade-Davis Bill (1864) proposed a stricter Reconstruction plan, requiring 50% loyalty oaths and the abolition of slavery. Lincoln vetoed it.
Key Figures
- Andrew Johnson, the 17th President (1865-1869), opposed Radical Republicans and was impeached, surviving by a single Senate vote.
- Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner led the Radical Republicans advocating for black suffrage and fundamental Reconstruction changes.
Legislative Achievements
- Freedmen's Bureau (1865) was established to aid former slaves in areas like education and employment.
- Civil Rights Act of 1866 declared all persons born in the U.S. as citizens, regardless of race.
- The Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed equal protection under the law and due process for all citizens.
- Reconstruction Acts (1867) divided the South into military districts and mandated new constitutions guaranteeing black male suffrage.
Social Challenges
- Black Codes arose to limit the rights of newly freed African Americans, forcing many into semi-bondage conditions.
- Sharecropping became a prevalent system, often resembling slavery in its exploitative nature.
Political Dynamics
- Scalawags were Southern whites who supported Reconstruction, seen as traitorous by others.
- Carpetbaggers were Northern Republicans who moved South for political opportunities, often viewed with suspicion by southerners.
Notable Legislation & Movements
- The Fifteenth Amendment prohibited denying voting rights based on race.
- The Civil Rights Act of 1875 aimed to prevent racial discrimination in public accommodations but was poorly enforced.
- The Tenure of Office Act (1867) aimed to restrict presidential power and led to Johnson's impeachment.
Economic and Political Corruption
- Panic of 1873 caused major financial turmoil leading to the collapse of banks and businesses.
- Credit Mobilier scandal involved Congress members accepting bribes for inflated railroad contracts.
- Boss Tweed and the Tweed Ring exploited political systems in New York for massive financial gain, exposed by cartoonist Thomas Nast.
Racial Violence and Resistance
- The Ku Klux Klan used violence to suppress African American civil rights and maintain white supremacy.
- Force Acts (1870, 1871) were enacted to combat Klan violence and protect civil rights.
End of Reconstruction
- The Amnesty Act of 1872 lifted restrictions on most ex-Confederates, enabling them to return to political power.
- The Compromise of 1877 effectively ended Reconstruction as federal troops were withdrawn from the South in exchange for Rutherford B. Hayes assuming the presidency.
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Description
Explore key concepts and terms from Chapter 15 of Amsco AP US History. This chapter focuses on the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, detailing Lincoln's approach to political Reconstruction in the South. Test your knowledge with flashcards covering this significant historical initiative.
