Reconstruction & West FC

Reconstruction Era

The period following the American Civil War during which the Southern states were re-integrated into the Union and the rights of freed Blacks were defined.

Freedman’s Bureau

An agency established in 1865 to aid freed slaves in the South by providing legal assistance, education, and employment.

Black Codes

Laws passed in Southern states after the Civil War to restrict the rights of freed Blacks and ensure their availability as a cheap labor force.

Ten Percent Plan

Abraham Lincoln's proposal for Reconstruction which allowed a Southern state to rejoin the Union once 10% of its voters swore an oath of allegiance.

Radical Republicans

A faction of the Republican Party during Reconstruction that sought to impose harsh terms on the Southern states and extend civil rights to freed Blacks.

Wade-Davis Bill

A proposal by Congress in 1864 requiring 50% of a state's voters to take a loyalty oath before rejoining the Union, more stringent than Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan.

14th Amendment

An amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, that granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves.

15th Amendment

An amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1870, that granted African American men the right to vote.

Ku Klux Klan

A secret society formed in the South in the 1860s that used terror and violence to maintain white supremacy and prevent Blacks from exercising their rights.

Ghost Dance

A religious movement among Native Americans that advocated for a return to traditional ways of life and was aimed at restoring their lands, culminating in the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Battles of Little Big Horn

A significant conflict in 1876 between the U.S. Army, led by George Custer, and Native American forces, resulting in a major victory for the Sioux.

Homestead Act (1862)

Legislation that provided land to settlers for a small fee, aiming to encourage westward migration.

Transcontinental Railroad

The first railroad to connect the East and West coasts of the United States, completed in 1869, facilitating travel and commerce.

Morrill Land Grant Act (1862)

Law that granted land to states to finance the establishment of colleges focusing on agriculture and mechanical arts.

Battle of Wounded Knee

A massacre in 1890 where U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed Sioux, marking the end of the Indian Wars.

Union League

A network of political clubs formed during Reconstruction to educate Black voters in civic duties and support Republican candidates.

Cattle Drive

The process of herding cattle from ranches in Texas to railheads in the North for transport to markets.

Charles Sumner

A leading Radical Republican senator who fought for civil rights during Reconstruction.

Thaddeus Stevens

A Radical Republican leader in the House of Representatives, known for his strong opposition to Andrew Johnson's policies.

Desert Land Act (1877)

Legislation allowing settlers to buy arid land at a low price if they promised to irrigate it.