US History Chapter 17 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What was the main goal of Reconstruction?

To reunite the nation and rebuild the southern states.

What was the Freedman's Bureau?

An agency established by Congress in 1865 to help poor people throughout the South.

How did the Wade-Davis Bill differ from Lincoln's 10 percent plan?

Under the Wade-Davis Bill, only southerners who swore they had never supported the Confederacy could vote or hold office.

What did the ratification of the 13th Amendment mean?

It was a constitutional amendment that outlawed slavery. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Freedman's Bureau affect education for freed slaves?

The Freedman's Bureau helped provide books for students and established universities for African Americans. Signup and view all the answers

What was Lincoln's main vision for Reconstruction?

To reunite the nation as quickly and painlessly as possible. Signup and view all the answers

Why did many Republicans disagree with Lincoln's 10 percent plan?

They thought it did not go far enough and wanted slavery banned. Signup and view all the answers

How did Reconstruction affect the social structure of the South?

It divided people over slavery and African American rights. Signup and view all the answers

What were the Black Codes?

Laws passed in southern states during Reconstruction that limited the freedom and rights of African Americans. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Southern governments believe they were justified in passing Black Codes?

They wanted to maintain a white government. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Black Codes require that African Americans sign work contracts?

To avoid arrest for not proving employment. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Congress refuse to admit Southern states into the Union in 1865 when VP Andrew Johnson became president?

Republicans complained that many new representatives were leaders of the Confederacy. Signup and view all the answers

What was President Johnson's plan for wealthy southerners and former Confederate officials?

They needed a presidential pardon to receive amnesty. Signup and view all the answers

What was working life like at Southern mills in the late 1800s?

Harsh. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Republicans propose the 14th Amendment before the Southern states were readmitted to the Union?

They feared that the Civil Rights Act might be overturned. Signup and view all the answers

What group was excluded from being considered a US citizen under the 14th Amendment?

Native Americans. Signup and view all the answers

Why did President Johnson reject the Freedmen's Bureau?

He claimed Congress could not pass new laws until southern states were represented. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Reconstruction Act passed by Congress in March 1867 affect the Southern states?

These laws divided the South into five districts. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the House of Representatives vote to impeach President Johnson?

He broke the law by removing a secretary of war official without Senate approval. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Congress pass a law limiting President Johnson's powers in 1868?

They knew he did not support their Reconstruction policies. Signup and view all the answers

What right did the 15th Amendment guarantee for African American men?

The right to vote. Signup and view all the answers

How did Radical Republicans increase their influence in Congress?

They gained support among moderates when Johnson ignored criticism of the Black Codes. Signup and view all the answers

What group criticized the 15th Amendment?

Women. Signup and view all the answers

How did state legislatures in the South begin to change as a result of Reconstruction?

Reconstruction governments provided money for new programs, and Republicans gained more influence. Signup and view all the answers

Whom did white Southerners call 'carpetbaggers'?

Northern-born Republicans who moved to the South after the war. Signup and view all the answers

Hiram Revels was the first African American to hold what position?

U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Jefferson Davis. Signup and view all the answers

What was the reason behind the creation of the KKK in 1866?

Many white southerners disapproved of African American officeholders. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Congressional Republicans think passing the 15th Amendment would protect the Reconstruction Plan?

They worried that southern states might try to keep black voters from the polls. Signup and view all the answers

How did members of the KKK demonstrate their anger toward African Americans?

They attacked and even murdered African Americans and white Republican voters. Signup and view all the answers

Why was the KKK able to obtain power in the South before 1870?

Democrats claimed Reconstruction governments were corrupt and disliked federal soldiers. Signup and view all the answers

What did the formation of the KKK inspire Congress to declare?

Congress passed laws making it a federal crime to interfere with elections. Signup and view all the answers

In 1872, what change in southern state governments brought an end to many Reconstruction reforms?

The General Amnesty Act of 1872 allowed former Confederates to serve in public office. Signup and view all the answers

What was the direct effect of the Compromise of 1877?

Democrats agreed to accept Hayes's victory in return for removing federal troops from the South. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Redeemers attempt to limit the rights of African Americans?

They set up poll taxes to deny the vote to African Americans. Signup and view all the answers

What were the Jim Crow laws?

Laws that enforced segregation in southern states in the 1880s. Signup and view all the answers

What was the verdict in Plessy v. Ferguson?

The Court ruled that segregation was constitutional under the 'separate-but-equal' doctrine. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Redeemers?

Democrats who brought their party back to power in the South. Signup and view all the answers

How did the sharecropping system limit opportunities for African Americans?

It kept them in debt due to a cycle of reliance on landowners. Signup and view all the answers

What industry offered jobs to many Southern workers as an alternative to farming in the late 1800s?

Textiles. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Reconstruction Goals and Policies

Objective of Reconstruction was to reunite the nation and rebuild Southern states after the Civil War.
Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan offered amnesty to southerners willing to swear loyalty, aiming for a swift reunification.
The Wade-Davis Bill proposed stricter measures, requiring military leaders to swear they had not supported the Confederacy, delaying Southern state reintegration.

Freedman's Bureau

Established in 1865 to assist poor individuals in the South, focusing on education, health care, and employment for freed slaves.
Helped create educational institutions like Howard and Fisk universities for African Americans.

Amendments and Civil Rights

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States.
The 14th Amendment defined U.S. citizenship, explicitly excluding Native Americans.
The 15th Amendment granted voting rights to African American men, stirring dissatisfaction among women who sought similar rights.

Black Codes were laws limiting the rights of African Americans in Southern states post-Civil War.
Southern governments justified Black Codes to maintain white supremacy and control labor through work contracts.

Congressional Actions and Tensions

Congress refused to admit Southern states in 1865 due to newly elected representatives' Confederate ties.
Radical Republicans sought to implement laws countering Johnson's lenient policies and to protect the rights of African Americans.

KKK and Challenges to Reconstruction

The Ku Klux Klan emerged in 1866, opposing African American civil rights and using violence against voters and officials.
Their actions prompted Congress to enact laws protecting citizens' voting rights and equal treatment.

Decline of Reconstruction

The General Amnesty Act of 1872 allowed many former Confederates to regain political power, undermining Reconstruction reforms.
The Compromise of 1877 led to the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, facilitating Democratic dominance.

Jim Crow Laws and Segregation

Jim Crow laws institutionalized racial segregation in the South during the 1880s.
The Plessy v. Ferguson ruling affirmed the "separate-but-equal" doctrine, legitimizing segregation.

Economic Conditions for African Americans

Sharecropping trapped African Americans in cycles of debt, as they worked land for landowners while giving up most of their harvest.
Textiles became a significant employment sector for Southern workers, offering alternatives to traditional farming.

Political Dynamics

Redeemers were Southern Democrats who sought to restore white control, reduce government size, and limit African American rights post-Reconstruction.
Poll taxes and literacy tests were implemented to disenfranchise African American voters, further consolidating power among white Southerners.

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Test your knowledge of Reconstruction era concepts with these flashcards. Explore key terms and their definitions to understand the efforts to reunite the nation after the Civil War and support those affected in the South.