Reconstruction and the New South

Flashcards covering key concepts related to Reconstruction and the New South, including amendments, political parties, societal impacts, and notable figures.

What was the 'Lost Cause' concept related to post-Civil War Southern society?

It was a romanticized view of the Confederacy and its leaders after their loss in the Civil War.

What was the main goal of the Freedmen's Bureau established in 1865?

To aid former slaves by distributing food, establishing schools, and helping them settle on land.

What did the 13th Amendment achieve?

It abolished slavery everywhere in the United States.

Who were the Radical Republicans and what were their goals during Reconstruction?

They aimed to punish Confederate leaders, protect the legal rights of former slaves, and redistribute land.

What was Lincoln's 10% Plan?

A lenient Reconstruction policy allowing Southern states to rejoin the Union if 10% of the voters pledged loyalty.

What was the Wade-Davis Bill?

A Radical Republican proposal for Reconstruction requiring a majority of white males to pledge allegiance before a state could be readmitted.

What characterized the political landscape of the Reconstruction era, particularly regarding party divisions?

Divisions existed between Radical Republicans, Conservatives, and Moderates regarding how to approach Reconstruction.

What was the Black Codes?

Laws enacted in Southern states to control freed African Americans and limit their rights.

What was the significance of the 14th Amendment?

It defined American citizenship and imposed penalties on states that denied suffrage to any adult male citizen.

What did the 15th Amendment guarantee?

It forbade states from denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

What was sharecropping and how did it impact African Americans post-Civil War?

Sharecropping allowed African Americans to rent land and pay landlords with a share of their crops, often leading to debt and economic disparity.

Who was Booker T. Washington and what was his philosophy regarding African American education?

He advocated for self-improvement and vocational education for African Americans as a path to gain equality.

What triggered the Compromise of 1877?

Disputed election results of the 1876 presidential election led to negotiations that resulted in the withdrawal of federal troops from the South.

What were Jim Crow laws?

State laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans in the South.

What method did Southern states use to disenfranchise black voters after Reconstruction?

They implemented poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses to limit voting rights for African Americans.

What did the term 'redeemers' refer to in post-Reconstruction Southern politics?

They were Southern Democrats who aimed to regain control of state governments from Republican rule.

What was the overarching legacy of Reconstruction regarding African American civil rights?

Although there were initial advancements, many of the gains were reversed, leading to institutionalized racism and disenfranchisement.

Who was Ida B. Wells and what was her contribution during Reconstruction and beyond?

She was a journalist who launched an anti-lynching campaign and advocated for civil rights for African Americans.