Final Exam 10th Study Sheet PDF

Lesson 2: Reconstruction Changes the South Republicans Dominate Government The era of Reconstruction brought significant changes to the South. Millions of southern African American men became voters, helping to bring the Republican Party into the region. African Ameri...

Lesson 2: Reconstruction Changes the South Republicans Dominate Government The era of Reconstruction brought significant changes to the South. Millions of southern African American men became voters, helping to bring the Republican Party into the region. African Americans took roles in state and local governments, including school leaders, sheriffs, mayors, police chiefs, and political leaders, with six serving as lieutenant governors. The Republican Party attracted individuals seeking change and challenge: o Scalawags were white men excluded from pre-Civil War politics. o Carpetbaggers were northerners who moved to the South seeking opportunities. Northern women found opportunities in the South, particularly in shaping the new public school system. Segregation dominated southern schools as integration received little support. The tax-supported public school system was a major Reconstruction success despite Republican focus on railroads and economic development, which also led to corruption. Freed People Rebuild Their Lives For the first time, many African Americans could legally marry, build homes, and choose where to live, although black codes limited these freedoms. African American churches became central to community life, serving as schools, employment agencies, and political rallying points. Churches were hubs for organizing, public speaking, and developing leaders. Land Distribution in the South The South's problems stemmed from uneven land distribution, with wealth tied to land ownership. Many landowners lacked funds to buy supplies or pay workers, leading to three farming systems:  o Sharecropping: Landowners controlled crops, provided supplies, and took a share of the harvest. o Share-tenancy: Workers chose crops, bought supplies, and shared profits with landowners. o Tenant farming: Workers paid rent for the land they farmed. Changes in the South Spark Violence Progress for African Americans fueled hostility among white southerners. Groups like the Ku Klux Klan emerged, promoting hatred and discrimination. Racial violence increased after the Fifteenth Amendment guaranteed voting rights for all men. Congress passed the Enforcement Acts in 1870 and 1871 to protect citizens' voting rights. Lesson 3: Reconstruction’s Impact Reconstruction Comes to an End Rising costs of military actions in the South led to the withdrawal of troops beginning in 1871. The Freedmen’s Bureau was disbanded in 1872, and northern racial prejudice resurfaced as white reformers passed away. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 guaranteed African Americans the right to public facilities and transportation, but the Supreme Court weakened these protections. Redeemers, a coalition of white southern Democrats, united to regain power through segregation. The 1876 presidential election controversy led to the Compromise of 1877: o Rutherford B. Hayes became president. o Federal troops were withdrawn from the South. o Federal funds were provided to southern states, marking the end of Reconstruction. Reconstruction Leaves a Mixed Legacy Reconstruction introduced lasting changes, including a tax-supported school system, federal modernization of railroads and ports, and a gradual wage economy. However, it failed to resolve bitterness between North and South or secure long- term protections for freed people. Constitutional amendments provided hope for African Americans, though racial inequality persisted. Changes in Political Parties Republican Party: Known as the “party that freed the slaves.” Supported by northern and southern African Americans. Associated with big business. Democratic Party: Supported by white southerners focused on maintaining white rule. Identified nationally with laborers while balancing southern segregationist interests. The South Restricts African American Rights African Americans faced narrowing rights under Jim Crow laws enforcing segregation. Voting was restricted through measures like poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses, drastically reducing African American voting in the Deep South. In 1883, the Supreme Court overturned the Civil Rights Act of 1875, leaving civil rights decisions to state and local governments. African American Leaders Seek Reform Despite Jim Crow laws, African Americans organized for their rights through clubs, schools, colleges, political groups, and newspapers. Booker T. Washington urged adaptation to segregation and economic independence.  W.E.B. Du Bois advocated for full and immediate equality. Ida B. Wells condemned lynching and discrimination through her newspaper, Free Speech. Study the following political cartoon