⛓️ Reconstruction and the Later Rise of Jim Crow Practices

Reconstruction refers to

The era following the Civil War when the South underwent a series of changes and rebuilding after the war.

When did the Civil War end?

April 9, 1865

When did Reconstruction begin and end?

1865-1877

When did Reconstruction end? Why did it end?

In 1877 when the Compromise of 1877 was passed.

What is the purpose of Presidential Reconstruction?

To quickly reintegrate Confederate states back into the Union

Who led Presidential Reconstruction?

Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson

What is Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan (1863)?

An offer of amnesty to Southerners who took an oath of loyalty to the Union.

What does the 10% of Lincoln's Ten Percent plan refer to?

After 10% of voters took the oath, states were allowed to establish new governments

What did Johnson's Reconstruction do?

- Granted pardons to ex-Confederates

- Allowed Southern states to elect new governments without federal oversight

Who drove for Congressional Reconstruction? What did they sought to do?

Radical Republicans

Sought to punish the South and ensure civil rights for freed slaves

What did the Congressional Reconstruction accomplish?

Reconstruction Acts (1867)

Constitutional Amendments 13th, 14th, and 15th

Freedmen's Bureau

Civil Rights Act of 1866

What are the Reconstruction Acts? (1867)

A series of laws passed by Congress in 1867 aimed at rebuilding and reforming the Southern states after the Civil War.

What did the Reconstruction Acts require states to do? Who were granted voting rights?

- Required states to ratify the 14th Amendment (which defines citizenship)

- Granted voting rights to African American men

The Reconstruction Acts divided the South into ___________, each governed by a ______ ________.

Divided the South into five military districts, each governed by a Union general.

What was the Freedmen's Bureau?

A bureau set up to help African-Americans adjust to freedom. Established schools, provided food and built schools

What is the 13th Amendment? (1865)

The 13th Amendment (1865) abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States

What was the loophole in the 13th Amendment?

Allowed for involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime, which led to exploitation of African American labor through the convict lease system

When was the 13th amendment adopted?

1865

What is the 14th Amendment (1868)?

The 14th Amendment (1868) granted citizenship to all persons born in the United States, including former slaves

When was the 14th amendment adopted?

1868

What is the significance of the 14th Amendment?

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- Prohibited states from denying citizens equal protection under the law

- Overturned the Dred Scott v. Sanford decision, which had held that African Americans were not citizens

What is the 15th Amendment (1870)?

The 15th Amendment (1870) prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude

When was the 15th Amendment adopted?

1870

What is the significance of the 15th Amendment?

Enfranchised African American men, leading to the election of black representatives to state legislatures and the U.S. Congress during Reconstruction

What was one reason the impact of the 15th Amendment was limited for African Americans?

Southern resistance

Which Supreme Court decision upheld racial segregation and limited the impact of the 15th Amendment?

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

What contributed to the limited enforcement of the 15th Amendment after 1877?

Lack of federal enforcement after Reconstruction ended

What are black codes?

Laws enacted in the southern United States after the Civil War that aimed to restrict the rights and freedoms of newly freed African Americans.

What were black codes design to do?

To maintain white supremacy and control over the labor and social lives of African Americans

What is sharecropping?

An agricultural system that emerged in the Southern United States after the Civil War, where landowners provided land, tools, and seed to tenants in exchange for a share of the crop produced.

How did the system of sharecropping affect sharecroppers?

Perpetuated a cycle of debt and poverty among African Americans and poor whites, as sharecroppers frequently struggled to pay off their debts to landowners, leading to economic exploitation.

What is the White League (1874)? What did it aim to do?

The White League was a paramilitary organization formed in the Southern United States during the Reconstruction era, aimed at undermining Republican governance and restoring white supremacy.

Who were freedmen?

Formerly enslaved individuals who were liberated during or after the Civil War, particularly through legislative measures such as the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment.

What is the Election of 1876?

The election of 1876 was a highly contentious presidential election in the United States between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel J. Tilden.

What is the significance of the Election of 1876?

It was marked by widespread voter intimidation, disputes over electoral votes, and a lack of clear resolution, ultimately leading to the Compromise of 1877 -> allowed Hayes to assume the presidency in exchange for withdrawing federal troops from the South.

United States v. Reese (1876)

1. The Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not intervene in state laws when it comes to elections, limiting its ability to protect African American voters.

2. This decision effectively weakened the enforcement of the 15th Amendment and allowed Southern states to implement discriminatory practices without federal oversight.

Significance of the United States v. Reese case?

Highlighted the limitations of federal authority in protecting African American voters during Reconstruction

Who was impeached in 1868?

Andrew Johnson

What position did Andrew Johnson hold when he was impeached?

17th President of the United States

What body brought charges against Andrew Johnson?

The House of Representatives

What act did Andrew Johnson violate that contributed to his impeachment?

The Tenure of Office Act

What did the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson reflect?

It reflected

- the intense conflict between Johnson and Congress regarding how to handle the Reconstruction of the South following the Civil War.

- the struggle over presidential power and congressional authority during a critical time in American history.

Who is Thaddeus Stevens?

A prominent Republican leader and a key figure in the U.S. House of Representatives during the Reconstruction era

What is Thaddeus Stevens known for?

His strong advocacy of civil rights and radical measures to reshape the South after the Civil War.

Why is Thaddeus Stevens important?

He played a crucial role in the Congressional Reconstruction efforts aimed at ensuring political and social equality for freed slaves and punishing Confederate leaders.

Radical Republicanism

a political ideology that emerged during the Reconstruction era, advocating for the rights of freed slaves and rebuilding the South after the Civil War.

What was the landmark Supreme Court case decided in 1896 that upheld racial segregation laws?

Plessy v. Ferguson

What doctrine was upheld by the Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson?

'Separate but equal'

What was the significance of Plessy v. Ferguson?

It reinforced and legitimized the growing system of racial discrimination and segregation.

What groundwork did Plessy v. Ferguson laid on the Southern United States?

It laid the groundwork for Jim Crow laws that enforced racial separation in public facilities and services.