Post-Civil War Reconstruction and Racial Dynamics

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, focusing on the impact on African Americans and the socio-political changes of the time.

14th Amendment

Passed in 1866, it granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the United States.

15th Amendment

Passed in 1866, it granted African American men the right to vote, prohibiting states from denying that right based on race.

Convict Leasing

A system where Southern states leased prisoners to private companies for labor, often in poor conditions, and was seen as worse than slavery.

Peonage

A labor system where people were forced to work to pay off debts, which was effectively a way to control black labor.

Woodrow Wilson's Segregation Mandate

Wilson's policies adopted and enforced segregationist principles in politics and government institutions.

Post-Civil War Identity of Blacks

Blacks were no longer enslaved but faced extreme poverty and legal restrictions that inhibited true freedom.

Criminalization of Black Life

Local governments enacted laws that criminalized the daily lives of black people, such as loitering and vagrancy.

Impact of the Civil War on Economic Structures

The Civil War devastated the Southern economy, diminishing the investments of slave owners and changing labor dynamics.

Racial Violence Post-Civil War

Following the Civil War, there was increased violence against black people by white Southerners, including attacks to maintain control.