Reconstruction: An Unfinished Revolution 1865–1877

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the Reconstruction era in American history, focusing on the social, political, and economic changes following the Civil War.

Reconstruction

The period from 1865 to 1877 during which the United States was in the process of rebuilding after the Civil War.

Sharecropping

An agricultural system which emerged after the Civil War, where farmers (often freedmen) would work a landowner's field in exchange for a share of the crops.

Freedmen's Bureau

An agency established by Congress in 1865 to aid displaced blacks and other war refugees.

Thirteenth Amendment

The constitutional amendment ratified in 1865 that abolished slavery in the United States.

Fourteenth Amendment

The amendment to the U.S. Constitution adopted in 1868 granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves.

Fifteenth Amendment

The constitutional amendment ratified in 1870 that granted African American men the right to vote.

Black Codes

Laws passed in southern states after the Civil War to restrict the freedom and rights of African Americans.

Ku Klux Klan

A secret society that emerged in the South after the Civil War, aiming to maintain white supremacy and resist Reconstruction efforts through intimidation and violence.

Radical Republicans

A faction of the Republican Party during Reconstruction that advocated for the full equality of African Americans and the harsh punishment of Confederates.

Andrew Johnson

The 17th President of the United States who succeeded Lincoln and led a lenient Reconstruction plan that faced opposition from Congress.

Lost Cause

A narrative that arose in the post-Civil War South, framing the Confederate cause as noble and justified and emphasizing states' rights over slavery.

Decoration Day

An early observance that honored the fallen soldiers of the Civil War, which is now known as Memorial Day.

Military Reconstruction Act

Legislation passed by Congress in 1867 that divided the South into military districts to enforce federal laws and protect the rights of freedmen.

Radical Reconstruction

The period during which the Radical Republicans controlled Congress and implemented policies to secure rights for African Americans.

The 'Back to Africa' Movement

A movement in the late 19th century that promoted the emigration of free African Americans to Africa, particularly Liberia.

Promissory Notes

A financial instrument issued by landowners in the South that kept sharecroppers in debt and bound to their land.

Compromise of 1877

An agreement that resolved the disputed presidential election of 1876 and effectively ended Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South.