Reconstruction Era: Policies, Conflicts, and Consequences

Lincoln's 10% Plan

Allowed states to rejoin if 10% pledged allegiance.

Wade-Davis Bill

Required 50% of white males to pledge allegiance.

Freedmen's Bureau

Provided food, education, and legal aid to freed slaves.

13th Amendment

Officially abolished slavery in the United States.

Johnson's Plan

Continued lenient policies from Lincoln, pardoned many ex-Confederates.

Black Codes

Laws restricting rights of Black people in the South.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Officially Granted citizenship and rights to African Americans.

14th Amendment

Established citizenship and equal protection under the law.

Reconstruction Act of 1867

Divided South into 5 military districts, enforced voting rights.

Carpetbaggers

Northern Republicans who moved South for profit or aid.

Scalawags

Southern whites who supported Reconstruction efforts.

Johnson's Impeachment

Impeached for violating the Tenure Act in 1868.

15th Amendment

Guaranteed Black men the right to vote.

Sharecropping

System keeping Black Americans in debt and labor.

Jim Crow Laws

State laws enforcing racial segregation after Reconstruction.

Ku Klux Klan (KKK)

Organized Violent groups opposing Black political power in the South.

Lynch Mobs

Groups using lynching to enforce racial terror to prevent black political power.

Corruption in Grant's Administration

Scandals involving officials during Grant's presidency.

Credit Mobilier Scandal

Railroad leaders bribed Congress to conceal fraud.

Whiskey Ring

Officials stole tax money from whiskey sales.

Indian Ring

Bribery in trading with Native American tribes.

Grant's Loyalty

Grant remained loyal to dishonest associates.

Election of 1876

Disputed election between Hayes and Tilden.

Compromise of 1877

Hayes became president in exchange of federal troops being removed from South. (OFFICIALLY ENDING RECONSTRUCTION)

Homestead Act

Promised free land to settlers in the West.

Indian Removal Act

Forced relocation of Native Americans to designated territories. ("Indian Territory")

Reservation System

Federal land allocated to Native tribes.

Transcontinental Railroad

Railroad connecting East and West, protected by military.

Morrill Act

Provided grants for agricultural and mechanical colleges.

Indian Wars

Military conflicts between Native tribes and U.S. forces.

Battle of Little Bighorn

Speculation of gold leads to increase in settlers. Sioux victory against U.S. military in Montana.

Declining Native Population

Caused by diseases, railroads, and buffalo destruction.

A Century of Dishonor

A book by Helen Hunt Jackson criticizing the U.S. government's mistreatment of Native Americans. Jackson documents the federal government's mistreatment of Native Americans.

Humanitarians

Advocated kind treatment of natives, but pushed for assimilation.

Hard-liners

Supported brutal containment of Native Americans.

Carlisle Indian School

Assimilation school aimed to erase Native culture.

Dawes Severalty Act

Divided tribal land into individual family plots. (NOT TRIBES --> SPLIT TRIBAL LIFE)

Battle of Wounded Knee

Massacre marking end of Native armed resistance.

Ghost Dance Movement

Ritual aimed at cultural revival, banned by U.S.

Populism

Movement advocating for farmers' rights and reforms.

Single Cash Crops

Farming focused on one crop, increasing vulnerability.

Industrialization of Farming

Shift from agriculture to machine-reliant farming.

Cultural Impact of Buffalo

Buffalo essential for Native food and shelter.

Mechanization of Agriculture

Inventions transformed farms into food production companies.

Steel Plow

A machine that improved soil cultivation efficiency.

Mechanical Reaper

Device that sped up harvesting crops.

Farmers' Discontent

Frustration due to debt and unfair pricing.

Deflation

Decrease in money supply affecting crop prices.

Foreclosure

Loss of property due to unpaid debts.

Tenant Farming

Renting land, constantly repeating poverty cycle.

Exodusters

Former slaves migrating to Great Plains for farming.

National Grange

Organization supporting farmers' education and social needs.

Granger Laws

State laws regulating railroad rates for farmers.

People's Party

Political group advocating for farmers' rights.

Graduated Income Tax

Tax increases with rising income levels. (higher income = higher tax)

Nationalize Railroads

Government control over railroad operations.

Bimetallism

Exchange gold and silver for paper money/currency.

Cross of Gold Speech

Bryan's critique of the gold standard.

Slaughterhouse Cases

Supreme Court limited 14th Amendment protections. Power goes to state governments, the federal government gave power to states to enforce 14th amendment which were led by white supremists and they stripped black people of their rights.

US v. Cruikshank

Federal government can't punish private rights violations.

Civil Rights Cases

Legalized segregation in private businesses.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Established 'separate but equal' doctrine.

The Colfax Massacre

Political massacre of Black Americans defending rights.

Ida B. Wells

First Journalist who documented lynchings and civil rights.

Lost Cause

Narrative justifying the South's actions in Civil War. Saying that the south were the victims against the north and that their society was perfect.