Complete Flashcard Set – The Reconstruction Era (1865-1877)

What was the Reconstruction Era?

The period from 1865-1877 after the Civil War, focused on rebuilding the South and reintegrating it into the Union.

What were the three big issues of Reconstruction?

a) How to reintegrate Southern states into the Union b) How to ensure civil rights for freed slaves c) How to rebuild the Southern economy

What three major proposals did Lincoln introduce for Reconstruction?

a) The Homestead Act of 1862 b) An 'Oath of Loyalty' to bring the South back into the Union c) The 13th Amendment (passed January 31, 1865)

What were the main consequences for the South after the Civil War?

Lost ¼ of its white men of military age, farms and plantations were destroyed, factories and railroads were ruined, many Black workers escaped to the North via the Underground Railroad, cities like Atlanta, Columbia, Charleston, and Richmond were burned.

Who were the two U.S. presidents during Reconstruction?

Andrew Johnson (1865-1869) and Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877).

What was the Freedmen’s Bureau?

A government agency providing food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and land to displaced Southerners, including freed African Americans.

Who originally proposed the Freedmen’s Bureau?

Representative T. D. Elliot (Massachusetts) in 1863; it became law in March 1865.

What two Reconstruction bills did Andrew Johnson veto?

The extension of the Freedmen’s Bureau Bill and the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

What was the significance of Congress overriding Johnson’s vetoes?

It was the first time in U.S. history that Congress overrode a presidential veto.

What were 'Black Codes' and Jim Crow laws?

Discriminatory laws that limited the rights of Black citizens in the South.

What are the three Reconstruction Amendments?

The 13th Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery, the 14th Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship and equal protection, the 15th Amendment (1870): Gave Black men the right to vote.

Who was the first Black man to vote under the 15th Amendment?

Thomas Mundy Peterson (March 31, 1870, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey).

What did the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 do?

Gave Black men the right to vote and established military control over Southern states.

Why was Andrew Johnson impeached?

He clashed with Congress and barely survived removal from office by one vote in 1868.

Who were Carpetbaggers?

Northerners who moved South seeking business and political opportunities.

Why were they called Carpetbaggers?

They carried luggage made from old carpets.

Who were Scalawags?

Southerners who supported Reconstruction and worked with the North.

Who were the Redeemers?

Southern Democrats who wanted to restore white supremacy and remove Republicans, Carpetbaggers, and Scalawags.

What was sharecropping?

A system where farmers rented and worked on land in exchange for a portion of the crop.

Who were the main sharecroppers at first?

Freed Black Americans, but later poor white farmers also became sharecroppers.

What was Ulysses S. Grant’s main goal as president?

To protect Black citizens' rights and prevent ex-Confederates from regaining power.

How did Grant combat white supremacy groups?

Through the Force Act of 1870 and the KKK Act of 1871.

What were Grant’s two major economic crises?

Gold Scandal of 1869: A financial scheme that caused market chaos and Panic of 1873: A severe economic depression.

What were Greenbacks?

Paper money first issued in 1862 during the Civil War, still legal today.

What was Grant’s first economic policy?

Converting Greenbacks to gold (though it wasn’t possible until 1879).

Why was the 1876 election controversial?

It was very close, leading to the Compromise of 1877.

What did the Compromise of 1877 do?

Withdrew federal troops from the South, allowed white Democrats to regain control, and marked the end of Reconstruction.

Why is studying the Reconstruction Era important, even for non-Americans?

It teaches lessons about democracy, civil rights, and rebuilding a divided nation—lessons relevant to any country, including Honduras.