Reconstruction

Freedmen

Former slaves.

Land

Signified wealth and security, and was desired by the freedmen.

Special Field Order #15

Issued by General William T Sherman; granted freedmen land from Charleston, SC to Jacksonville, FL, also known as 'forty acres and a mule'.

The Freedmen’s Bureau

Established to help former slaves transition into freedom, providing food, education, and medical care.

Sharecropping

A labor system where freedmen received tools and seeds in exchange for a portion of the crop harvested.

The Black Church

Provided safety, education, community space, and religious training for African Americans.

HBCUs

Historically Black Colleges and Universities established for the education of Black Americans.

Andrew Johnson

President after Lincoln’s assassination, held discriminatory views towards Black people and pardoned former Confederates.

Black Codes

Laws that imposed limitations on freedmen, including restrictions on labor contracts and legal rights.

Radical Republicans

A political faction determined to punish the South and support Black voting rights during Reconstruction.

The Civil Rights Act of 1866

Legislation aimed at protecting the rights of Blacks but vetoed by President Johnson.

The 14th Amendment

Granted citizenship to all born in the U.S. and mandated equal protection under the law.

The Ku Klux Klan

A racist group formed in 1866 aimed at oppressing Black Americans through violence and intimidation.

The Fifteenth Amendment

Granted voting rights to Black Americans in 1870.

The Enforcement Acts

Legislation designed to combat violence against Black Americans and protect their voting rights.

Habeas Corpus

The right to appear before a judge to know the charges against oneself.

The Panic of 1873

An economic depression that led to bank closures and increased unemployment.

Carpetbagger

Northerners who moved to the South for economic gain during Reconstruction.

Scalawag

A derogatory term for Southern whites who supported Reconstruction and aligned with Republicans.

Tenure of Office Act

Prohibited the removal of certain officeholders without Senate approval, targeted by Johnson.

The KKK Act

Legislation aimed at suppressing the activities of the Ku Klux Klan.

Freedmen’s Bank

Chartered to help Black Americans manage their finances; failed during the Panic of 1873.

The Civil Rights Act of 1875

Attempted to enforce the rights of citizens to public accommodations, ruled unconstitutional.

Redemption

The restoration of Democratic control in the South, often through violent means.

The Shotgun Policy

Open violence against Blacks, especially noted in Mississippi.

Hamburg Massacre

Violent conflict initiated against a Black drill team in South Carolina.

Compromise of 1877

Resolved the disputed 1876 election, leading to the end of Reconstruction.

The Klan’s symbolism

White uniforms representing the ghosts of dead Confederates.

Violence against freedmen

Common unprovoked violence including beatings and shootings post-Civil War.

Freedmen's desire for education

Blacks deemed literacy essential for freedom; sought education eagerly during Reconstruction.

Johnson's policies

Restored Confederate lands and allowed former leaders back into power under certain conditions.

The justice system's bias

White juries often refused to convict white defendants accused of crimes against Black victims.

Temperance and cleanliness

Values taught to freedmen alongside literacy; emphasized moral living.

Democratic control post-Reconstruction

The South regained Democratic power leading to a loss of rights for Black citizens.

Congress's override of vetoes

Congress successfully overrode Johnson’s vetoes on key civil rights legislation.