reconstruction and rise of Jim crow vocab

Andrew johnson

• 1865-1869

• 17th prez after lincoln’s death

• His lenient reconstruction policies led to conflict within congress, he was impeached

radical republicans

• 1860s

• faction within republican partly that advocated for civil rights for freed slaves

• pushed for harsher reconstruction measures and greater rights for black people

Black codes

• 1865-1866

• laws passed in southern states to restrict freedom of african americans

• aimed to maintain white supremacy and control over the labor force

13th amendment

• ratified in 1865

• abolished slavery in the US

• marked a significant change in American society and law

14th amendment

• ratified in 1868

• granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in US

• aimed to protect the rights of former slaves and ensure equal protection under the law

15th amendment

• ratified in 1870

• prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude

• expanded voting rights to black men

civil rights act of 1866

• passed in 1866

• first federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law

• aimed to combat black codes and protect civil rights

tenure of office act

• 1867

• law intended to restrict the president’s power to remove certain officeholder’s without senate’s approval

• led to johnson’s impeachment when he violated it

thaddeus stevens

• 1792-1868

• leader of the radical republicans in the House

• advocated for harsh reconstruction policies and civil rights for freed slaves

charles sumner

• 1811-1874

• senator and leading abolitionist

• fought for chili rights and was a key figure in the radical Republican movement

impeachment

• 1868 (johnson’s)

• process by which a sitting president can be removed from office

• johnson was impeached but not removed, highlighting tensions between the presidency and congress

reconstruction acts

Time Context: 1867

Basics: Laws that laid out the process for readmitting Southern states into the Union. - Significance: Established military rule in the South and aimed to protect the rights of freedmen.

carpetbaggers

Time Context: Post-Civil War

Basics: Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, often for political or economic gain.

Significance: Viewed negatively by many Southerners, they played a role in Reconstruction politics.

scalawags

Time Context: Post-Civil War

Basics: Southern whites who supported Reconstruction and the Republican Party. -

Significance: Often seen as traitors by other Southerners.

enforcement acts

Time Context: 1870-1871

Basics: Laws aimed at protecting African Americans' right to vote and curbing KKK violence.

Significance: Strengthened federal authority to combat racial violence.

US grant

Time Context: 1869-1877 (President)

Basics: 18th President and Union general during the Civil War.

Significance: His administration focused on Reconstruction and civil rights but faced corruption scandals.

horace greeley

A prominent newspaper editor and founder of the New-York Tribune, Greeley was an influential figure in the anti-slavery movement and the early Republican Party. His significance lies in his advocacy for social reforms and his role in shaping public opinion during the 19th century.

Election of 1872

This election saw Ulysses S. Grant re-elected as President. Greeley ran against him as the candidate of the Liberal Republican Party, which aimed to reform the corruption in Grant's administration. The election highlighted the divisions in the Republican Party and set the stage for future political realignments.

election of 1876

This election was one of the most disputed in American history, involving a contentious battle between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden. The election ended in a compromise that resulted in Hayes becoming president in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction.

redeemers

A political coalition in the South during the late 19th century, Redeemers sought to reclaim the South from Republican rule and restore white supremacy. Their significance lies in their role in the establishment of Jim Crow laws and the rollback of Reconstruction gains for African Americans.

compromise of 1877

This agreement settled the disputed 1876 presidential election and led to the withdrawal of federal troops from the South. It marked the end of Reconstruction and allowed Southern states to implement discriminatory laws against African Americans.

segregation

The enforced separation of different racial groups, particularly in the South, became institutionalized after Reconstruction. Its significance is evident in the establishment of Jim Crow laws that legalized racial discrimination and disenfranchised Black Americans.

lost cause

A narrative that romanticizes the Confederate cause and portrays the Civil War as a noble struggle for states' rights rather than slavery. This ideology significantly influenced Southern identity and historical memory.

henry grady

A journalist and orator, Grady was a leading proponent of the "New South," advocating for industrialization and economic diversification in the South. His work promoted the idea that the South could modernize while maintaining its cultural identity.

joel Chandler harris

An author and journalist known for his Uncle Remus stories, which featured African American folklore. His work reflects the complexities of race relations in the post-Reconstruction South and contributed to the cultural narrative of the time.

new south

A term used to describe the South's transition from an agrarian economy to one that embraced industrialization and modernization. This idea was championed by figures like Henry Grady and aimed to reshape the South’s economic landscape.

poll tax

A fee required to vote, which was used to disenfranchise poor and minority voters, particularly African Americans, in the South. Poll taxes were part of a broader system of voter suppression.

grandfather clause

A legal mechanism that allowed individuals to bypass literacy tests and poll taxes if their grandfathers had been eligible to vote before the Civil War. This effectively exempted many white voters from restrictions while disenfranchising Black voters

plessy v ferguson

An 1896 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. This ruling legitimized Jim Crow laws and institutionalized racial discrimination for decades.

civil rights cases

A series of Supreme Court decisions in the late 19th century that weakened the federal government's ability to protect the civil rights of African Americans. These cases contributed to the erosion of Reconstruction-era protections.

WEB Dubois

An African American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist who co-founded the NAACP. Du Bois advocated for political action and civil rights, contrasting with Booker T. Washington's more conciliatory approach.

Booker T Washington

An influential African American educator and leader who emphasized vocational training and economic self-reliance for Black Americans. His Atlanta Compromise speech advocated for gradual progress rather than immediate civil rights.

Tuskegee

Referring to the Tuskegee Institute founded by Booker T. Washington, it became a leading institution for vocational education for African Americans. It played a crucial role in educating and empowering Black individuals in the South

NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is a civil rights organization aimed at fighting racial discrimination and advocating for the rights of African Americans. Its significance lies in its role in the civil rights movement and legal challenges against segregation.

Niagra Movement

A group of African American intellectuals who met in 1905 to demand civil rights and oppose Booker T. Washington