Reconstruction and the Jim Crow South

These flashcards cover key concepts from the Reconstruction and Jim Crow South lecture notes, including significant amendments, organizations, and economic impacts related to the Civil War and post-war America.

What did the 13th Amendment accomplish?

It ended slavery.

What did the 14th Amendment grant?

Citizenship to all born or naturalized in the US.

What is the goal of the 15th Amendment?

To ensure the US cannot deny citizens the right to vote.

What was the Freedmen's Bureau?

Established in 1865 to help former enslaved people and poor whites post-Civil War, primarily successful in creating new schools.

Define sharecropping.

A system where a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in exchange for a share of the crops, often trapping families in debt.

What are Exodusters?

African Americans who migrated from Southern states to the Midwest seeking freedom and economic opportunities.

What did the Compromise of 1877 accomplish?

It ended Reconstruction and removed federal troops from the South in exchange for the election of Rutherford Hayes.

What does disenfranchisement mean?

Taking away a person's right to vote.

What is a poll tax?

A fee paid to vote after the Civil War.

What was the purpose of literacy tests?

To assess reading and writing skills required to vote.

What is the Grandfather Clause?

A legal mechanism allowing individuals to bypass literacy tests or poll taxes if their grandfather had the right to vote.

What does NAACP stand for?

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

When did the Civil War take place?

1860-1865.

What was Reconstruction?

The period from 1865-1877 aimed at rebuilding the nation after the Civil War, focusing on ending slavery and protecting newly emancipated slaves.

What was one educational outcome of Reconstruction?

The creation of black universities.

How did Reconstruction economically change the South?

The economy became more diverse with the establishment of iron, steel, and textile mills and government support for railroads.

What were Black Codes?

Laws that restricted blacks from serving on juries, testifying against whites, marrying whites, or owning land.

What was a significant failure of Reconstruction?

The inability to secure lasting civil and economic rights for African Americans.

What was the KKK?

A group formed to attack blacks trying to vote through violence, including lynching and beatings.

How did the Democratic party relate to the Southern whites?

Southerners supported the Democratic party as it typically aligned with their interests.

What was the significance of Plessy v. Ferguson?

Established the precedent of 'separate but equal' in regards to segregation.

What is de jure segregation?

The separation of people based on race by law.

What did the Homestead Act offer?

160 acres of land to individuals who would live on and farm it for five years.

What did the Morrill Land Grant provide?

Land to states to fund colleges focused on engineering and agriculture.

What was the Chinese Exclusion Act?

A law prohibiting Chinese immigrants from entering the US.

What was the Dawes Act?

A law that broke up reservation land into family plots and required Native Americans to adopt American ways.

What happened at Wounded Knee?

200 men, women, and children were killed by US Army soldiers.

What is the Interstate Commerce Commission?

A federal agency that regulated railroads and ensured fair rates.

Who delivered the Cross of Gold Speech?

William Jennings Bryan.

What was the Sherman Silver Purchase Act?

A law mandating the US Treasury to significantly increase its monthly purchase of silver bullion.

What does 'Manifest Destiny' refer to?

The belief that American expansion into the West was justifiable and inevitable.

What impact did mining have on westward settlement?

It attracted settlers to the West as the first industry.

What led to the cattle boom in the West?

Demand for beef encouraged ranchers to drive cattle across open ranges.

How did farmers contend with the rise of barbed wire fencing?

Farmers used barbed wire to close off their farms, affecting cattle ranching.

What were some issues farmers faced in the late 19th century?

Falling crop prices, high interest rates, and high freight rates charged by railroads.

What was the Populist Party's primary demand?

Ending pro-business policies and regulating railroads to lower rates.

Who ran for president from the Populist Party in 1892?

James Weaver.

What was the outcome of the 1896 election?

William McKinley won, which effectively ended the Populist Party.

What was one method used to defeat Native Americans?

Killing off the buffalo.

What successes were achieved during Reconstruction?

Passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, black participation in government, and establishment of public education.

Why were voting rates low despite the legal right to vote?

Due to poll taxes, literacy tests, and violence from the KKK.

Describe the Southern economy post-Civil War.

Characterized by sharecropping and growth in new industries like iron and textiles, leading to prolonged debt.

What mindset drove American settlement of the West?

Manifest Destiny, along with the promise of land and economic opportunity.

How did railroad construction affect immigration policy?

It created job opportunities, leading to increased immigration until the Chinese Exclusion Act was enforced.

What was the federal government's policy regarding Native American assimilation?

Policies like the Dawes Act sought to assimilate Native Americans, leading to significant land loss and cultural disruption.

What challenges did farmers face from 1865-1869?

They faced debt, falling crop prices due to overproduction, and high freight rates.

How did farmers attempt to address their economic challenges?

By forming organizations such as the Grange, Farmers Alliance, and the Populist Party.