Chapter 17

Reconstruction-Era Study Guide

Morrill Tariff

Increased import duties to protect American industry and fund the Civil War, encouraging domestic production.

National Banking Act

Established a system of national banks, standardized currency, and facilitated war financing.

Homestead Act of 1862

Granted 160 acres of public land to settlers who agreed to live on and improve the land for five years, promoting westward expansion.

Morrill Land Grant Act

Allocated federal lands to states to fund the establishment of agricultural and mechanical colleges.

Southern Cities After the War

Cities like Atlanta, Richmond, and Charleston were in ruins, with destroyed infrastructure and widespread poverty.

Economy in the South

Devastated by the war; reliance on agriculture without slavery led to economic stagnation and widespread poverty.

Southern Sentiment Toward Yankees

Deep resentment and bitterness due to military defeat, economic hardship, and Reconstruction policies.

Rebuilding State Governments in the South

Through Reconstruction Acts, states were required to draft new constitutions and ratify the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.

Needs of Newly Freed Slaves

Land, education, and economic opportunities were deemed crucial for independence.

Martin Delaney’s Perspective

Argued African American soldiers’ contributions were pivotal in winning the war and that landownership was key to independence.

War Department Creation

Established systems to manage wartime logistics and oversee Reconstruction efforts.

Freedman’s Bureau Functions

Provided food and shelter, established schools for African Americans, negotiated labor contracts, protected freedpeople’s rights, and helped reunite families.

Issues with Contracts

Many labor contracts exploited freedpeople, creating conditions similar to slavery.

Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction

Offered pardon to Confederates who took a loyalty oath and allowed states to rejoin the Union once 10% of voters swore loyalty.

Exclusions Under Lincoln’s Plan

Confederate leaders and wealthy plantation owners were excluded from pardons.

Lincoln’s Reconstruction Claim

Asserted that Reconstruction was an executive responsibility, not congressional.

Radical Republican Goals

Ensure equal rights for African Americans and punish the South for the war.

Wade-Davis Bill

Required 50% of voters to take a loyalty oath; vetoed by Lincoln.

Lincoln’s Death

Killed by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, at Ford’s Theatre.

Other Targets

Andrew Johnson and William H. Seward were also targeted; Seward survived an attack.

Fate of Booth

Tracked down and killed by federal troops.

Johnson’s Plan

Excluded wealthy Southerners from pardons, granted many pardons, and encouraged state conventions to rewrite constitutions.

Black Codes

Restricted African Americans’ rights to vote, own property, testify against whites, move freely, assemble, and access education or jobs.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Granted citizenship and equal protection to African Americans, laying the foundation for the 14th Amendment.

Congressional Reconstruction

Military districts were established, and stricter terms for Southern readmission were imposed.

Command of the Army Act

Limited the president’s power by requiring military orders to go through the commanding general.

Tenure of Office Act

Prevented the president from removing certain officials without Senate approval.

Rebel States’ Fate

Placed under military rule until new constitutions were written and amendments ratified.

State Constitutions

Required guarantees of civil rights and suffrage for African Americans.

Choosing African American Delegates

Selected through conventions often organized by the Freedmen’s Bureau and local Republican organizations.

Impeachment of Johnson

Charged for violating the Tenure of Office Act; narrowly acquitted by one Senate vote.

Reestablishing Families

Families were critical for social stability and economic recovery among freedpeople.

Jobs for African Americans

Mostly sharecropping and low-wage agricultural labor.

Schools for African Americans

Schools were established, often by Northern charities and the Freedmen’s Bureau.

Opposition to Education

Elite whites feared education would challenge social hierarchies and economic dependence.

Tensions in African American Communities

Divides over class, education, and political strategies.

Radical Republican Achievements

Established public schools, improved infrastructure, and expanded civil rights.

Corruption

Instances of graft and mismanagement, often exaggerated by opponents.

Republican Platform (1868)

Support for Reconstruction, equal rights, economic development, education, and unity.

Democratic Position

Advocated white supremacy and opposed Reconstruction policies.

Grant’s Money Issues

Scandals and mismanagement undermined trust in his administration.

Jay Gould and James Fisk

Attempted to corner the gold market, led to financial panic, and tarnished Grant’s administration.

Public Perception of Grant

Seen as honest but surrounded by corrupt officials.

Economic Bubble Burst

Speculative investments collapsed, leading to financial crises.

Credit Mobilier Scandal

Overcharging for railroad construction, bribed politicians, leading to public outrage.

Beneficiaries

Wealthy executives and corrupt politicians.

Treasury Secretary Actions

Reform efforts were often undermined by scandal.

Whiskey Ring

Fraudulent tax collection that implicated Grant’s administration.

Terrorist Groups

KKK, White League, Red Shirts, and others engaged in intimidation and violence.

Actions of Klansmen

Intimidation, violence, and suppression of African American political rights.

KKK Victims

African Americans, carpetbaggers, and Southern Republicans.

Enforcement Acts

Protected African American voting rights, federalized election oversight, and criminalized KKK activities.

Northern Sentiment Shift

Declining Northern support for Reconstruction and African American rights.

Panic of 1873

Economic depression caused by over-speculation in railroads and banking failures.

Waving the Bloody Shirt

Republicans invoked Civil War memories to discredit Democrats and appeal to voters.

13th Amendment (1865)

Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime. It was a major step toward ending institutionalized slavery.

14th Amendment (1868)

Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves, and guaranteed equal protection under the law. It became a cornerstone for civil rights legislation.

15th Amendment (1870)

Prohibited the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It aimed to secure voting rights for African American men

Carpetbaggers

Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction to participate in rebuilding efforts. Some were motivated by genuine reform, while others were accused of seeking personal gain.