Radical Reconstruction and Its Impact on the South

Radical Reconstruction

Period post-Civil War where Congress, led by Radical Republicans, implemented policies for restructuring Southern society and extending civil rights to freed slaves.

Freedmen's Bureau

Aid provider for freed slaves and poor whites.

Reconstruction Acts (1867)

Legislation dividing the South into military districts and mandating states to create new constitutions ensuring black male suffrage.

Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

Effort to challenge the president's leniency towards the South.

Carpetbaggers

Northerners moving South during Reconstruction, often seen as exploiting the troubled Southern economy.

Scalawags

Southern whites supporting Reconstruction and the Republican Party, considered traitors by other Southerners.

KKK (Ku Klux Klan)

Founded in 1865, used violence to oppose Reconstruction and maintain white supremacy, targeting black communities and white Republicans.

Reconstruction Amendments

XIII (13th) abolished slavery, XIV (14th) granted citizenship and equal protection, XV (15th) prohibited voting denial based on race.

Post-Reconstruction/ "New" South

Era post-1877 marked by the end of federal oversight, rise of segregation, Black Codes, sharecropping, and convict leasing.

Battle of the Little Bighorn

Conflict where Lieutenant Colonel Custer's forces were defeated by Native American tribes led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.

Homestead Act (1862)

Offered 160 acres of land to settlers for a small fee, on the condition of land improvement.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

First major law restricting immigration based on ethnicity, targeting Chinese laborers.

Gold Rush

Periods of migration and economic growth, causing displacement and violence against Native American populations.

Market Revolution

Transformation of the U.S. economy to industrial, marked by advances in transportation, communication, and production.

Boomtowns

Rapidly growing towns due to sudden population influx, often during gold rushes.

Ghost Towns

Abandoned boomtowns once resources were depleted.

Rise of Industry

Driven by technological innovations and capital influx, leading to the emergence of large corporations.

Monopolies/Trusts

Horizontal and vertical integration strategies allowing corporations to dominate markets.

Handling Strikes

Employment of strikebreakers and government intervention to suppress labor unrest.

Political Cartoons

Used to criticize corruption and monopolistic practices, reflecting public opinion on industry leaders.

Labor Unions

Formed by workers to advocate for improved conditions and wages.

Haymarket Affair (1886)

Violent labor protest in Chicago leading to anti-union sentiment and persecution of labor leaders.

Homestead Strike (1892)

Violent conflict between steelworkers and Carnegie Steel, resulting in setbacks for labor unions.

Photographic Historical Evidence

Provides visual documentation in historical analysis, though may lack context or be edited.

Author's Background

Influences how historical sources are created and interpreted, requiring consideration of biases.