Social Studies US History: Chapter 5 Reconstruction

The period after the American Civil War (1865-1877) focused on rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into society.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in April 1865, marking the end of the Civil War.

Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction involved offering pardons to Confederates, protecting private property, and allowing Southern states to rejoin the Union if 10 percent of their voters swore an oath of allegiance.

President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 15, 1865, cutting short his Reconstruction plans.

Andrew Johnson, Lincoln's successor, took a lenient approach to Reconstruction, allowing Southern states to largely self-govern.

Laws enacted by Southern states after the Civil War that aimed to restrict the rights and freedoms of formerly enslaved people.

A white supremacist hate group that emerged in the South during Reconstruction, using violence and intimidation against African Americans and their allies.

Black people could be arrested for vagrancy (loitering, wandering, or homelessness) and forced to work in prisons or back on plantations, effectively continuing slavery under a different guise.

A system where formerly enslaved people rented land from landowners and paid a share of their crops as rent, often trapping them in a cycle of debt.

The Civil Rights Act of 1866, passed over President Johnson's veto, granted citizenship to African Americans and ensured equal rights for all.

The Reconstruction Act of 1867 placed former Confederate states under military control, imposing martial law and overseeing the rebuilding process.

The Freedmen's Bureau, established to assist formerly enslaved people in the South, provided aid, education, and legal support.

The 14th Amendment, ratified by the Southern states to rejoin the Union, granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to formerly enslaved people.

Guarantees the right to vote for all male citizens, regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Southern states were required to ratify the 14th Amendment to rejoin the Union and ensure equal protection under the law.

Grant saw education as essential for ensuring the success of the 15th Amendment and the rights of newly enfranchised African American voters.

President Johnson's lenient approach to Reconstruction contrasted with the Congressional Republicans' "hard line" approach, which aimed to punish the South and prevent Confederate leaders from regaining power.

The first phase of Reconstruction (1865-1867) under President Johnson was more lenient, while the second phase (1867-1877) under Congressional Republicans focused more on punishment and control.

The Military Reconstruction Acts of 1867 divided the Southern states into military districts, imposing martial law and setting rules for re-establishing state governments.

President Johnson's vetoes of Reconstruction Acts were overridden by Congress, highlighting the power struggle between the executive and legislative branches.

The Black Codes, created by Southern states, aimed to suppress African Americans' newly gained freedoms, creating a system of segregation and oppression.

The adoption of the 15th Amendment marked a significant turning point in American history, guaranteeing the right to vote for African American men, but faced significant resistance and loopholes.

The success of Reconstruction relied on effectively enforcing the 14th and 15th Amendments, which meant addressing the social and economic inequalities that persisted.

The Freedmen's Bureau played a crucial role in assisting formerly enslaved people, providing education, legal support, and economic opportunities, but faced challenges in achieving its goals.

The South, severely damaged by the Civil War, needed to rebuild infrastructure, economy, and social structures, making Reconstruction a complex and multifaceted process.

The political landscape in the South shifted with the rise of African American voters and political participation, challenging the traditional power structures of the region.

Despite some progress, Reconstruction ultimately faced challenges, including white resistance, economic uncertainty, and the rise of Jim Crow laws, ultimately leading to its failure to achieve full racial equality.

The post-Civil War era, characterized by violence, oppression, and continued struggle for equality, shaped complex racial dynamics in the American South.

The 14th and 15th Amendments were crucial for establishing the rights of African Americans, but their enforcement remained a challenge, leading to continued legal loopholes and limitations.

Reconstruction demonstrated the ongoing struggle for racial equality in the United States, highlighting how political will and societal attitudes shape the implementation of fundamental rights.