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John Wilkes Booth

Actor and Confederate sympathizer who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865.

State of the South After the Civil War

Economically devastated, socially unstable, and politically uncertain with collapsed plantation economies and limited opportunities for freed African Americans.

Why Lincoln Chose Johnson as His Vice President

To appeal to pro-Union Southerners and moderate Democrats due to Johnson's loyalty to the Union.

Ten Percent Plan

Lincoln’s proposal allowing a Southern state to rejoin the Union once 10% of its 1860 voters swore allegiance to the U.S. and accepted the abolition of slavery.

Freedmen

Formerly enslaved individuals who gained their freedom after the Civil War, mainly through the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment.

Freedmen’s Bureau

Federal agency established in 1865 to assist freed slaves and poor whites in the South with food, housing, medical care, education, and legal support.

Sharecropping System

Agricultural system where freedmen and poor farmers rented land from landowners, often leading to cycles of debt and economic dependence.

Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction

An approach emphasizing reconciliation and swift reunification with minimal punishment for Southern states.

Wade-Davis Bill

A stricter Congressional Reconstruction proposal requiring 50% of a Southern state’s white male population to swear loyalty to the Union.

Johnson’s Plan for Reconstruction

Allowed Southern states to rejoin the Union with minimal requirements and permitted Southern legislatures to pass Black Codes.

Radical Republican Plan for Reconstruction

Focused on protecting the rights of freed African Americans, imposing military rule in the South, and ensuring Black suffrage.

Black Codes

Laws enacted by Southern states to restrict the rights of African Americans and maintain a system of racial hierarchy.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Landmark law granting citizenship and equal legal protection to all persons born in the U.S. and targeting racial discrimination.

Joint Committee on Reconstruction

Congressional committee formed in 1865 to oversee Reconstruction policies and assess Southern states’ readiness to rejoin the Union.

Senator Charles Sumner

Radical Republican senator advocating for abolition and civil rights for African Americans, known for proposing harsh Reconstruction policies.

Grasp of War

Legal concept asserting federal authority over the Southern states due to rebellion, justifying military occupation during Reconstruction.

14th Amendment

Ratified in 1868, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and guaranteeing equal protection under the law.

Military Reconstruction Act

Laws passed in 1867 dividing the South into military districts governed by Union generals, requiring new constitutions ensuring Black suffrage.

Tenure of Office Act

Law restricting the President from removing certain government officials without Senate approval, leading to Andrew Johnson’s impeachment.

Command of the Army Act

Law limiting the President’s control over the military by requiring orders to go through the top-ranking general.

Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

Johnson was impeached in 1868 for violating the Tenure of Office Act but acquitted in the Senate by one vote.

Black Reconstruction

Period during Reconstruction when African Americans gained political influence and rights despite opposition from white supremacists.

Carpetbaggers

Derogatory term for Northerners who moved to the South post-Civil War, perceived as opportunists but many aimed to help rebuild.

Scalawags

Southern whites who supported Reconstruction and worked with Republicans, often viewed as traitors by fellow Southerners.

Ku Klux Klan

White supremacist terrorist organization founded during Reconstruction to suppress Black political participation.

15th Amendment

Ratified in 1870, prohibiting states from denying voting rights based on race, color, or previous servitude.

Civil Rights Act of 1875

Federal law prohibiting racial discrimination in public accommodations and jury service, poorly enforced and later ruled unconstitutional.

Rutherford B. Hayes

Republican candidate who won the disputed 1876 election and ended Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South.

Samuel Tilden

Democratic candidate in the 1876 election who won the popular vote but lost the presidency due to controversial electoral decisions.

Contested Election of 1876

Election between Hayes and Tilden resulting in disputed electoral votes requiring Congressional intervention.

Committee to Resolve the 1876 Election

Special commission created to determine the winner of the contested 1876 election.

Resolution of the 1876 Election

Compromise of 1877 awarded presidency to Hayes in exchange for withdrawing federal troops, ending Reconstruction.