Reconstruction: From Presidential to Congressional, and the Rise of Jim Crow

Class #2

Reconstruction

A complex period in U.S. history from 1865 to 1877 aimed at rebuilding the South and addressing rights for newly freed African Americans.

Presidential Reconstruction

The initial phase of Reconstruction spearheaded by President Andrew Johnson, characterized by lenient policies towards former Confederate states.

Radical Reconstruction

The later phase of Reconstruction where Congress controlled policies, pushing for more stringent measures to promote racial equality.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Landmark legislation granting citizenship to Black Americans and overturning the Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling.

14th Amendment

Constitutional amendment ratified in 1868 defining American citizenship and guaranteeing equal protection under the law.

Reconstruction Act of 1867

Legislation that divided the South into military districts and mandated new state constitutions ensuring suffrage for all males.

Hiram Revels

The first Black Senator in U.S. history, representing Mississippi and serving from 1870.

Blanche Bruce

The second Black Senator from Mississippi, serving from 1875.

Black Codes

Laws passed in Southern states aimed at restricting the freedom and rights of Black Americans.

Ku Klux Klan (KKK)

A white supremacist organization founded in 1866, known for its violent acts against Black Americans and their supporters.

Southern Redemption

The movement by white Southerners post-Reconstruction to restore their pre-war social and political order.

Compromise of 1877

Political agreement that effectively ended Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South.

Jim Crow

A system of racial segregation and oppression instituted in the South after Reconstruction, lasting until the Civil Rights Movement.

Racial Equality

The principle that individuals should have equal rights and opportunities regardless of race.

Citizenship Rights

Legal rights granted to individuals that include the right to participate in civic and political life.

Voting Rights

The right to participate in elections and vote for representatives.

Land Redistribution

The proposed policy to reallocate land to formerly enslaved people in efforts to provide economic independence.

Militarily Occupied Districts

Regions of the South that were under the control of the U.S. Army as a result of Reconstruction policies.

Anti-Discrimination Laws

Legislation aimed at protecting individuals from discrimination based on race, gender, or other identities.

Systematic Terror

Widespread and organized violence directed against a specific group to instill fear and maintain control.

Dramatic Transformation

Significant changes in societal structure and political participation of Black Americans during Reconstruction.

Halfway Revolution

The notion that Reconstruction was incomplete and only partially achieved its goals for African American rights.

Political Participation

Engagement in political processes, including voting, campaigning, and holding office.

Social Customs

Traditional behaviors and practices within a society that influence its norms and laws.

Equality Under the Law

The principle that all individuals, regardless of race or background, should be treated equally by legal systems.

Violence as a Tool

The use of fear and intimidation through acts of violence to suppress political and social rights.

Republican Party

The political party that was more progressive regarding race relations during the Reconstruction era.

Democratic Party

The political party that often opposed Reconstruction efforts and supported traditional Southern social order.

Generational Shift

The change in political dynamics as older leaders who supported Reconstruction were replaced by newer figures.

Persistence of White Supremacy

The ongoing belief in racial superiority that influenced social and political attitudes in the South.

Limited Freedom

The constrained and often economically challenging situation faced by African Americans after the end of slavery.

Persistence of Issues

Ongoing challenges related to racial inequality and civil rights that continued after Reconstruction.