Chapter 15: Reconstruction Era (1865-1877)

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Questions and Answers

What did the Radical Republicans want for freed slaves during Reconstruction?

They sought to deport all freed slaves.

They desired to maintain the power of former slave owners.

They aimed to restrict land ownership among freed slaves.

They wanted freed slaves to vote and hold public office. (correct)

What services did the Freedmen’s Bureau provide to freed slaves?

Social, educational, and economic services. (correct)

Job placement services and economic aid.

Military training and protection from violence.

Legal assistance to fight against former slave owners.

Which statement best describes President Andrew Johnson's views on Reconstruction?

He opposed the idea, stating that states had not left the Union. (correct)

He believed Reconstruction was essential for national unity.

He supported full rights for freed slaves immediately.

He sought to punish Confederate leaders severely.

What were Black Codes?

Laws that restricted the rights of black people. Signup and view all the answers

What was the general sentiment of Congress regarding President Johnson's approach to Reconstruction?

They became increasingly irate and opposed his decisions. Signup and view all the answers

What did Thaddeus Stevens believe regarding the South after the Civil War?

The whole fabric of Southern society must be changed. Signup and view all the answers

What consequence did freed slaves face under Black Codes regarding employment?

They had to enter into labor contracts or risk legal penalties. Signup and view all the answers

Which individual was a leading figure in opposing President Johnson's policies in Congress?

Charles Sumner. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the 14th Amendment ratified in July 1868?

To guarantee citizenship to all people born in American territory Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant result of the Military Reconstruction Act of 1867?

It divided the South into five military districts for governance Signup and view all the answers

Which president was impeached due to conflicts over Reconstruction policies?

Andrew Johnson Signup and view all the answers

What did the 15th Amendment, passed in 1870, guarantee?

Voting rights regardless of race or previous servitude Signup and view all the answers

What crisis led to a decline in Northern interest in Reconstruction by the mid-1870s?

The Panic of 1873 Signup and view all the answers

What primary tactic did the Ku Klux Klan use to prevent black people from voting?

Violence and terror Signup and view all the answers

What phrase describes the legal principle established by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896?

Separate but equal facilities Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first black man elected to the U.S. Senate during Reconstruction?

Hiram R. Revels Signup and view all the answers

What was a common outcome for black laborers after the Civil War?

Returning to plantations for paid labor Signup and view all the answers

Which groups lost influence as Reconstruction progressed?

Carpetbaggers and Scalawags Signup and view all the answers

What did the Republicans promise during the 1876 election regarding federal troops?

They would withdraw federal troops and end Reconstruction. Signup and view all the answers

The term 'Jim Crow' refers to what aspect of post-Civil War America?

An era of legal segregation Signup and view all the answers

What did many black communities prioritize during Reconstruction to improve their situation?

Formal education Signup and view all the answers

What did the Senate's refusal to remove Andrew Johnson lead to?

His impeachment by the House of Representatives Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of sharecropping that developed after the Civil War?

To allow landowners to exploit labor for profit Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Reconstruction Era (1865-1877)

Federal Reconstruction policies aimed to integrate formerly enslaved people into society and establish their rights.
Radical Republicans sought to empower black Americans through voting rights, public office, and land ownership.
The Freedmen's Bureau (1865) provided essential social, educational, and economic support for newly freed slaves.
Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction plan was criticized by Republicans. He prioritized Southern states' readmission without emphasizing black rights or Confederate punishment.
Southern states enacted Black Codes to restrict the freedoms and opportunities of black Americans. These codes limited their rights, forced labor, and enforced racial inequality.
Opposition to Johnson grew within Congress, led by figures like Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens. They believed in more radical Reconstruction measures.

14th and 15th Amendments

The 14th Amendment (ratified 1868) granted citizenship and equal protection to all people born in the U.S., challenging the Black Codes.
The 15th Amendment (ratified 1870) prohibited denial of voting rights based on race or previous enslaved status.
These amendments signaled a significant step towards equality, however, their impact was often limited by Southern resistance.

Military Reconstruction Act (1867)

Congress, frustrated with Johnson's approach, implemented the Military Reconstruction Act.
This divided the South into military districts to enforce newly established rights. Southern states had to re-write constitutions acknowledging rights for Black people.
This led to Johnson's impeachment attempt within Congress, although he was acquitted.

Presidential Election of 1868

Ulysses S. Grant (Republican) won the election on a platform supporting freedmen's rights, advocating for black equality.

Impact of Reconstruction on the South

Reconstruction brought significant but uneven change.
Black Americans gained political representation, with participation in Congress, and saw education as a pathway to mobility.
However, limited land ownership often kept many freed slaves tied to the former plantations, and harsh economic inequalities persisted.
Shared cropping emerged as a system of work on former plantations where landowners provided essentials and laborers shared the crop harvest.

Emergence of Terror and Backlash

The Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group, emerged during Reconstruction and used intimidation and violence to suppress black suffrage and equality.
The North's waning interest in Reconstruction (due to factors like Western expansion) and political corruption reduced federal support in the South.
Economic downturns (the Panic of 1873) and Supreme Court rulings weakened Reconstruction efforts.
Scalawags (Southern whites supporting Republicans) and carpetbaggers (Northern whites moving South), although assisting Black communities, also faced backlash.

Compromise of 1877 and the End of Reconstruction

The contested 1876 election led to Republican Rutherford B. Hayes becoming president under agreement to remove federal troops from the South.
This effectively ended Reconstruction, ushering in an era of Jim Crow segregation and racial violence in the South.
The Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) legalized "separate but equal" facilities, perpetuating segregation.

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Description

This quiz covers the key aspects of the Reconstruction Era, including policies aimed at integrating formerly enslaved people and the struggles for their rights. It highlights the role of Radical Republicans, the Freedmen's Bureau, and the impact of the 14th and 15th Amendments. Test your knowledge on this critical period in American history.