Radical Republicans and Civil Rights

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to Radical Republicans, civil rights legislation, and important historical figures and events surrounding the Reconstruction era.

Radical Republicans

A faction of the Republican Party that sought to punish the South and protect the rights of African Americans after the Civil War.

Thaddeus Stevens

Leader of the Radical Republicans in the House of Representatives, known for his abolitionist stance and advocacy for African American rights.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Legislation that aimed to protect the citizenship and rights of African Americans, vetoed by President Johnson.

Freedmen's Bureau

A government agency created to assist former slaves and poor whites by providing food, clothing, medical care, and education.

Fourteenth Amendment

An amendment that grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves.

Carpetbagger

A derogatory term for Northerners who moved South after the Civil War, perceived as exploiting the region's unstable situation.

Scalawag

A term for white Southerners who supported the Republican Party during Reconstruction, often viewed as traitors.

Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

The process by which President Andrew Johnson was impeached, becoming the first president in American history to be impeached.

Equal protection of the laws

A principle stating that laws must provide equal protection to all individuals, prohibiting discriminatory practices.

Due process

The legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person, ensuring fair treatment in the judicial system.