Reconstruction Era Vocabulary: Civil Rights, Amendments, and Laws

Reconstruction

"REBUILD" - 12 years after the Civil War when former Confederate States were brought back to the United States (1865-1877)

Reconcile/Reconcilia

Forgiveness; to make up

Preservation

Saving; to keep in existence

Amendment

A change to the Constitution (27 total)

Bureau

Government department or organization that is given a specific job

Federal Troops

United States military soldiers

Hold Public Office

To have a government job

Civil Liberties

Rights guaranteed to every citizen. These rights are protected by the law

Segregation

The separation of people by race

Discrimination

To treat others differently or unfairly

Vocational

Education that teaches job skills

Disenfranchise

To deprive someone of a right of citizenship, esp. the right to vote

Abolish (abolition)

The act of doing away with or putting an end to (as in slavery)

Black Codes

Unfair laws passed in Southern states right after the Civil War to control newly freed Black people

Poll tax

A fee that a person had to pay to be allowed to vote in an election

13th amendment

Law that ended slavery in the US

14th amendment

Law that says everyone born in the United States is a citizen and must be treated fairly under the law

15th amendment

Law that says people cannot be stopped from voting because of their race, color, or if they used to be a slave