Modern America: Quiz 1 Study Set

Reconstruction

The period following the Civil War focused on rebuilding the South and integrating freed slaves into society.

Lincoln's 10% Plan

A proposal allowing Southern states to rejoin the Union if 10% of voters swore an oath of allegiance and abolished slavery.

Wade-Davis Bill

A stricter plan for Reconstruction requiring a majority of white males to take an "Ironclad oath" and abolish slavery.

Andrew Johnson

Southern Democrat and former slave owner who became president after Lincoln's assassination, proposing lenient Reconstruction policies.

Black Codes

Laws enacted in the South to restrict the freedoms and rights of Black people post-Civil War.

Radical Reconstruction

A phase of Reconstruction characterized by the refusal to recognize Southern delegations and the expansion of civil rights for freedmen.

14th Amendment

Constitutional amendment granting citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.

Reconstruction Act of 1867

Legislation that required all adult males in the South to register to vote and established military oversight.

15th Amendment

Constitutional amendment prohibiting the denial of the right to vote based on race, but not gender.

Sharecropping

An agricultural system where freedmen worked land owned by others in exchange for a share of the crops, often leading to debt.

Southern Terrorism

Violence and intimidation by groups like the KKK aimed at undermining Reconstruction efforts and maintaining white supremacy.

Compromise of 1877

An agreement that resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election, leading to the withdrawal of federal troops from the South.

Legal Legacies of Reconstruction

The establishment of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, which aimed to secure rights for freed slaves.

The Gold Rush

A mass migration to California in search of gold, significantly impacting the economy and environment.

The "Indian Problem"

The challenges faced by the U.S. government in managing relations with Native American tribes during westward expansion.

Pacific Railroad Act

Legislation that facilitated the construction of the transcontinental railroad, promoting westward expansion.

Battle of Little Bighorn

A significant conflict in 1876 between U.S. forces led by Custer and Native American tribes, resulting in a major defeat for the U.S. military.

Homestead Act

A law providing 160 acres of free land to settlers willing to develop it, encouraging westward migration.