Reconstruction and Post-Civil War America (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Reconstruction-era notes.

Reconstruction (1865–1877)

Post–Civil War effort to rectify the sins of slavery; a moment when the nation tried to live up to its founding ideals, with questions about citizenship and equality.

13th Amendment

Constitutional amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.

Lincoln's assassination

The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, which led to Andrew Johnson’s presidency during Reconstruction.

Andrew Johnson

President who led the early stage of Reconstruction after Lincoln's death.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Legislation aimed at protecting the civil rights of newly freed people during Reconstruction.

14th Amendment

Constitutional amendment defining citizenship and guaranteeing equal protection under the law.

First Reconstruction Act

Legislation organizing Southern states into military districts and outlining Reconstruction processes.

15th Amendment

Constitutional amendment prohibiting voting denial based on race, color, or previous servitude.

Radical Republicans

Faction advocating strong federal action to protect Black civil rights during Reconstruction.

Ulysses S. Grant

Republican candidate who won the 1868 presidential election, relying on Southern Black votes.

Horatio Seymour

Democratic candidate in the 1868 presidential election.

Scalawags

White Southern Republicans who supported Reconstruction and federal interventions.

Carpetbaggers

Northern whites who moved to the South during Reconstruction to participate in politics and rebuilding.

S.B. Packard

Maine-born Union Army veteran; Louisiana U.S. Marshal (1869–73); Governor of Louisiana (1877); last Republican governor there until 1980.

Black Political Participation

Black men participated and served across all levels of government; over 2,000 Black officeholders by the end of Reconstruction.

Freedmen's Bureau

Agency established to aid newly freed people with education, protection, and resources during Reconstruction.

Freedmen's School

Schools established to educate freed people and their children.

The Black Church

Religious institutions that supported Black communities and social life during Reconstruction.

Rise of Racial Violence

Riots against political authority, interpersonal violence, and white vigilante activity aimed at Black communities.

Ku Klux Klan

White supremacist terrorist organization founded in the 1860s; led by Nathan Bedford Forrest; targeted Black political actors and communities.

Enforcement Acts (1870–71)

Laws designed to combat terrorist violence (e.g., the Ku Klux Klan) and protect civil rights in the South.

Economic Development During Reconstruction

Shifts including loss of Southern wealth tied to emancipation, Northern industrial growth, and the rise of free labor, tempered by vagrancy laws and sharecropping.

Tariff Laws

Tariff policies affecting the Reconstruction-era economy.

Morrill Land Grant

Legislation granting land to states to fund agricultural and mechanical colleges.

Stock Market Crash, Sept. 1869

Financial panic that reflected and amplified economic instability during Reconstruction.

The Collapse of Reconstruction

Era ending due to factors like Stalwart Republicans, the Depression of 1873, and shifting political power in the South.

Stalwart Republicans

Faction within the Republican Party favoring patronage and strong federal authority in Reconstruction.

Depression of 1873

Major economic downturn that undermined Reconstruction policies and Southern recovery.

Jay Cooke & Co.

Bank in trouble during the 1873 panic, contributing to the economic collapse.

Compromise of 1877

Settlement of the 1876 presidential election; Hayes becomes president and Reconstruction ends, with promises of economic favors for the South.

Rutherford B. Hayes

Republican president elected as part of the Compromise of 1877; agreed to end federal Reconstruction protections in the South.

Samuel J. Tilden

Democratic candidate in the contested 1876 election who challenged the results.

Racial Nationalism

A form of nationalism where Americans are defined by race, religion, and ethnicity.

Civic Nationalism

A form of nationalism where Americans are defined by shared adherence to the U.S. Constitution.

Exclusionary Nationalism

Updated form of nationalism emphasizing exclusion of non-members or outsiders.