History Quest Oct.23

reconstruction

1. the period when the USA began to rebuild after the civil war

2. the process the federal government used to readmit defeated confederate states into the nations

Freedmen’s Bureau

a federal agency that helped reunite families

black codes

local and state laws intended to obstruct th progress of free slaves in the South after the Civil War

contract system

free African Americans worked on thr plantation in exchange for wages, shelter and food

sharecropping

workers rented a plot of land in exchange for a share of the crop

Ku Klux Klan

a secret organization; goal to remove Republicans from power and restore white control of the South through violence. killing/hanging blacks for “crimes” committed against whites were a common tactic

Amendment 11

Citizens can’t sue states in Federal courts. (They can sue them in state court)

Amendment 12

Created Electoral College. Allowed Presidential candidates to team up with Vice Presidential candidates.

Radical Republicans

wanted major civil rights reforms; they were in control of Reconstruction, South is under federal control. Military districts controlled states and maintained order until they met terms of readmission to Union. State constitutions had to give ALL adult men the right to vote. States had to ratify the 14th amendment. Not everyone liked the reforms made; Democrats, KKK.

Panic of 1873

an economic crisis - makes things worse. Affects banks, stock market, railroad industry. Five-year economic depression. These problems hurt the cause of Reconstruction. Reconstruction was expensive. Governments often cut back funding in times of economic crisis.

US vs. Cruikshank

challenges the enforcement of the 14th Amendment. Groups that harm emancipated people feel they are safe from prosecution. States decide they could stop civil rights Violations, but they don’t have to.

US vs. Reese

creates a loophole in the 15th Amendment, leading to voting restrictions such as states using poll taxes and literacy tests.

Plessy vs. Ferguson

allows separate “but equal” public places. (Of course, they were not equal in many places).

Election of 1876

make it clear that Reconstruction will not continue much longer… Rutherford B. Hayes (R) wins electoral vote Samuel Tilden (D) wins popular vote!

Compromise of 1877

Hayes wins the Presidency, but with conditions. Most importantly, Federal troops must leave the South. In exchange, Democrats promise to respect rights of African Americans.

Amendment 13

Slavery nor indentured servitude is legal unless it is used as a punishment

Amendment 14

People born or naturalized in American are citizens with rights; states that harm the civil rights will lose membership in the H.O.R.; Senoir leaders of the Confederacy; The US will always pay pay its debt and we always have. But, the US won’t pay Confederate Debts

Amendment 15

The right to vote cannot be denied due to race, color, or previous condition of servitude