IB History Americas: Civil War, Reconstruction and Jim Crow

What years did the Reconstruction era span?

1865-1877

What major societal issues arose after the Civil War?

Reuniting the country, rebuilding the South, and integrating four million freed slaves into society.

What was the Emancipation Proclamation?

An executive order by President Lincoln that freed slaves in the Confederate states.

What were the turning points of the Civil War?

Gettysburg and Vicksburg.

What did the 13th Amendment accomplish?

It abolished slavery in the United States (December 1865).

What was the Freedmen's Bureau?

A federal agency established in 1865 to aid freed slaves in the South.

What were Black Codes?

Laws passed in 1865-1867 to restrict the rights of freed African Americans.

What was Radical (Congressional) Reconstruction?

A period from 1866-1877 characterized by strict federal policies to enforce civil rights for freed slaves.

What did the 14th Amendment guarantee?

It granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. (passed 1866; ratified 1868).

What were the Reconstruction Acts?

Laws passed in 1867-1868 that laid out the process for readmitting Southern states into the Union.

What did the 15th Amendment achieve?

It prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race (passed 1869; ratified 1870).

Who were 'Carpetbaggers'?

Northerners who moved to the South after the Civil War, often perceived as exploiting the region.

Who were 'Scalawags'?

Southern whites who supported Reconstruction and the Republican Party.

What was Sharecropping?

A system where freedmen and poor whites farmed land owned by others in exchange for a share of the crops.

What was the significance of the Election of Ulysses S. Grant?

Grant's election in 1868 marked a shift towards more aggressive Reconstruction policies.

What does 'Southern Redemption' refer to?

The period when Southern Democrats regained control and reversed many Reconstruction policies.

What was the Ku Klux Klan?

A white supremacist group formed in 1867 that used terror to oppose Reconstruction and civil rights for African Americans.

What were the Enforcement Acts?

Laws passed in 1870-1871 aimed at protecting African Americans' rights and suppressing Klan violence.

What was the Panic of 1873?

An economic crisis that led to a severe depression, impacting Reconstruction efforts.

What was the Compromise of 1877?

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

How did the Supreme Court limit the protections of the 14th Amendment?

By ruling in cases that weakened federal enforcement of civil rights and allowed states to impose discriminatory laws.

What were Voting Restrictions during Reconstruction?

Laws and practices that aimed to disenfranchise African American voters, such as literacy tests and poll taxes.

What characterized the 'Jim Crow' South?

A system of racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans established after Reconstruction.

What conclusion did Lincoln reach about slavery in July?

Lincoln concluded that the Union must free the slaves or be subdued.

What did the Second Confiscation Act include?

It proclaimed that all slaves of owners engaged in rebellion would be forever free.

Why did Lincoln decide to wait for a Union victory before issuing the Emancipation Proclamation?

To bolster Northern morale and minimize opposition from Northern Democrats.

What significant event occurred at the Second Battle of Bull Run?

The Confederates, led by Lee and Jackson, defeated Union General John Pope.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Antietam?

It was a strategic victory for the Union, forcing Lee to retreat to Virginia.

What did Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation declare?

All slaves held in states in rebellion would be forever free as of January 1, 1863.

What was Lincoln's stance on colonization for freed slaves?

He viewed colonization as a solution to the racial problem in America.

How did Northern Republicans react to the Emancipation Proclamation?

Most praised it, seeing it as a significant step against the rebellion.

What was the response of Northern Democrats to the Emancipation Proclamation?

They described it as a bloody, barbarous, and unconstitutional scheme.

How did Southerners react to the Emancipation Proclamation?

They saw it as a call for insurrection among slaves and a desperate act by Lincoln.

What was the Thirteenth Amendment intended to do?

It aimed to terminate and prohibit the existence of slavery in the United States.

What was the voting outcome for the Thirteenth Amendment in the Senate?

The Senate passed the amendment by a vote of 38 to 6.

What did the platform at the national convention endorse regarding peace with rebels?

It refused to compromise with rebels and demanded unconditional surrender.

What was the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation in the context of the Civil War?

It marked the war as a fight against slavery and aimed to prevent European intervention.

What did Lincoln's cabinet think about the Emancipation Proclamation?

Most supported it, though some questioned its constitutionality.

What was the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on enlistments in the Union army?

Lincoln was disappointed that there was no significant increase in enlistments.

What did the Charleston Mercury say about the Emancipation Proclamation?

It described it as a desperate act by a crazed president beholden to radical abolitionists.

What did Lincoln propose regarding the establishment of a new colony for freed slaves?

He offered to invest government money to help establish a colony in Central America.

What was the total number of casualties at the Battle of Antietam?

The battle resulted in over twenty-three thousand combined casualties.

What was one of the provisions of the Second Confiscation Act?

It included provisions for the freedom of slaves owned by those in rebellion.

What did Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation cite as its legal basis?

It cited the article of war adopted by Congress and the Second Confiscation Act.

What was the significance of the Thirteenth Amendment's passage?

It was a crucial step in abolishing slavery in the United States.

What significant constitutional amendment was passed by the House on January 31 after Lincoln's reelection?

The Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery.

What was Lincoln's belief regarding the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment?

He believed it would rapidly bring the war to a close.

Which two states adopted new constitutions that abolished slavery during Reconstruction?

Missouri and Tennessee.

How did white Southerners generally view the Reconstruction era?

As a time of humiliation and revenge inflicted by vindictive Northerners.

What was the perspective of Northern defenders of Reconstruction?

They argued that federal intervention was necessary to prevent Confederates from restoring pre-war Southern society.

How did most African Americans view Reconstruction?

As a small but important first step towards securing civil rights and economic power.

What challenges did freed slaves face after the end of Reconstruction?

They faced economic peonage and legal subordination without federal support.

What was the impact of Reconstruction on African American institutions?

It helped create institutions and legal precedents that would support later efforts for freedom and equality.

What catastrophic effects did the Civil War have on the South?

Towns were destroyed, plantations burned, and many families faced starvation and homelessness.

How many Confederate soldiers died during the Civil War?

More than 258,000, which was over 20% of the adult white male population in the region.

What was the condition of Southern blacks after the Civil War?

They emerged from bondage with no land or property, facing great uncertainty.

What institutions did free blacks create before the Civil War?

Churches, schools, and mutual benefit societies.

What happened to these institutions after emancipation?

They were consolidated, expanded, and liberated from white supervision.

What role did political organizations play in the lives of African Americans during Reconstruction?

They became focal points of black life and community organization.

What was one reason Reconstruction ended in the late 1870s?

An economic crisis and lack of political will in the North.

What was the fate of the freed slaves after the end of Reconstruction?

They were abandoned by the federal government and faced oppression in the New South.

What did many freed slaves do immediately after the Civil War?

They left plantations in search of freedom, often with nowhere to go.

How did the Civil War affect the Southern economy?

It devastated the economy, leaving many without property or means of support.

What was the significance of the Thirteenth Amendment?

It abolished slavery in the United States.

What was Lincoln's 10 Percent Plan?

It allowed a state to re-establish its government if 10% of its 1860 voters took an oath of loyalty and accepted emancipation.

Which states reestablished loyal governments under Lincoln's plan in 1864?

Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

What was the Radical Republicans' response to Lincoln's Reconstruction plan?

They were astonished at its mildness and denied seats to representatives from the reconstructed states.

What happened to President Lincoln on April 14, 1865?

He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater.

Who succeeded Lincoln as president and what was his approach to Reconstruction?

Andrew Johnson succeeded Lincoln and preferred a lenient approach, offering amnesty and restoration of property rights except for slaves.

What were the requirements for states to be readmitted to Congress under Johnson's plan?

States had to revoke their secession ordinances, abolish slavery, ratify the 13th Amendment, and elect a new state government.

What was the Freedmen's Bureau?

An agency established in March 1865 to assist freed slaves by distributing food, establishing schools, and settling blacks on land.

What were the Black Codes?

State laws enacted to control the labor and behavior of freed blacks, effectively undermining their economic independence.

What was the primary goal of the Freedmen's Bureau?

To provide assistance to former slaves and poor whites in the South after the Civil War.

What did Johnson's plan lack regarding civil rights?

It did not address civil rights or voting rights for freedmen.

How did Johnson's personality affect his presidency?

His intemperate and tactless nature, along with his hostility towards freed slaves, hindered effective Reconstruction.

What was the role of provisional governors in Johnson's Reconstruction plan?

They were appointed by Johnson to oversee the election of delegates for state constitutional conventions.

What was the relationship between the Freedmen's Bureau and the federal government?

The Bureau was an army-directed agency that operated under federal authority to assist freedmen.

What did the Black Codes enforce?

They enforced labor agreements and plantation discipline, punishing those who refused to enter labor contracts.

What was the outcome for the Black Codes?

They played a crucial role in undermining Presidential Reconstruction efforts.

What did many white planters desire after the Civil War?

They sought to maintain a form of slavery by keeping black workers legally tied to plantations.

What did the Radical Republicans believe about Johnson's Reconstruction plan?

They believed it was too lenient and challenged his authority to appoint civilian governments.

What was a significant consequence of Lincoln's assassination?

It shifted the Reconstruction responsibility to Andrew Johnson, who had a different approach.

What was the purpose of the Freedmen's Bureau's schools?

To educate former slaves and assist in their transition to freedom.

What did the term 'Restoration' refer to in Johnson's plan?

It referred to Johnson's approach to Reconstruction, emphasizing the restoration of the Union rather than a transformative process.

What was the political climate during Johnson's presidency?

Partisan passions were growing, complicating his efforts at Reconstruction.

What did Congress require from states for readmission?

States had to ratify the 13th Amendment and meet other conditions set by Congress.

What was the Freedmen's Bureau's limitation?

It was not a permanent solution and had limited authority and resources.

What was the primary goal of the Black Codes?

To subordinate the black population and maintain a labor system similar to slavery.

What role did police forces play in enforcing the Black Codes?

They terrorized the black population and enforced labor contracts, often abusing those who resisted.

What was the convict lease system?

A system that provided employers with a supply of cheap labor by leasing convicts to work without compensation.

What was the composition of the congressional delegations from former Confederate states?

They included former Confederate cabinet officers, generals, and members of the Confederate Congress.

What was the significance of the Thirty-Ninth Congress convening in December 1865?

Republicans held majorities sufficient to override presidential vetoes and began to shape Reconstruction policy.

What did the first Civil Rights Act declare?

That blacks were citizens of the United States and allowed federal intervention to protect their rights.

How did President Johnson respond to the Freedmen's Bureau and Civil Rights Act?

He vetoed both, arguing they expanded federal power and discriminated against whites.

What was the outcome of Congress overriding Johnson's vetoes?

It marked the first time in American history Congress overrode a presidential veto to enact legislation.

What did the Fourteenth Amendment establish?

It defined American citizenship and prohibited states from denying due process and equal protection under the law.

What penalty did Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment impose on states?

States that denied suffrage to male inhabitants would lose representation in Congress and the electoral college.

What was the significance of the Joint Committee on Reconstruction?

It was created to frame a new Reconstruction policy after the Thirty-Ninth Congress convened.

What did the Black Codes allow regarding labor contracts?

They enforced labor agreements and punished those who refused to enter into them.

What did the Radical Republicans believe about federal power?

They believed it was necessary to protect the rights of blacks and enforce equality.