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John Wilkes Booth & Lincoln’s Assassination – John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer and actor, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, at Ford’s Theatre. Booth opposed Lincoln’s policies and hoped his death would aid the Southern cause, but it ultimately led to harsher Reconstruction policies.
State of the South After the Civil War – The South was economically devastated, socially unstable, and politically uncertain. With slavery abolished, plantation economies collapsed, infrastructure was destroyed, and millions of freed African Americans faced limited opportunities and widespread discrimination.
Why Lincoln Chose Johnson as His Vice President – Lincoln selected Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat from Tennessee, to appeal to pro-Union Southerners and moderate Democrats. Johnson’s loyalty to the Union during the Civil War made him a strategic choice to foster national unity.
Ten Percent Plan – Lincoln’s Reconstruction proposal, which allowed a Southern state to be readmitted into the Union once 10% of its 1860 voters swore allegiance to the U.S. and accepted the abolition of slavery. It was intended as a lenient and swift path to reunification.
Freedmen – A term used to describe formerly enslaved individuals who gained their freedom after the Civil War, primarily through the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment.
Freedmen’s Bureau – A federal agency established in 1865 to provide assistance to freed slaves and poor whites in the South, offering food, housing, medical care, education, and legal support.
Sharecropping System – An agricultural system in which freedmen and poor farmers rented land from landowners in exchange for a portion of their harvest. This system often led to cycles of debt and economic dependence, resembling a form of economic servitude.
Lincoln’s Plan for Reconstruction – Lincoln’s approach to Reconstruction emphasized reconciliation and swift reunification. It sought to reintegrate Southern states quickly with minimal punishment, prioritizing national unity over harsh retribution.
Wade-Davis Bill – A Congressional Reconstruction proposal that required 50% of a Southern state’s white male population to swear loyalty to the Union before rejoining. It was much stricter than Lincoln’s Ten Percent Plan, but Lincoln pocket-vetoed it.
Johnson’s Plan for Reconstruction – President Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction plan allowed Southern states to rejoin the Union with minimal requirements. It pardoned many former Confederates and enabled Southern legislatures to pass restrictive Black Codes, limiting freedmen’s rights.
Radical Republican Plan for Reconstruction – A strict Reconstruction policy led by Radical Republicans in Congress, focusing on protecting the rights of freed African Americans, imposing military rule in the South, and ensuring Black suffrage.
Black Codes – Laws enacted by Southern states after the Civil War to restrict the rights of African Americans, effectively maintaining a system of racial hierarchy and limiting economic and social freedoms.
Civil Rights Act of 1866 – A landmark law that granted citizenship and equal legal protection to all persons born in the U.S., targeting racial discrimination and serving as a precursor to the 14th Amendment.
Joint Committee on Reconstruction – A Congressional committee formed in 1865 to oversee Reconstruction policies and assess Southern states’ readiness to rejoin the Union. It played a key role in shaping post-war legislation.
Senator Charles Sumner – A leading Radical Republican senator from Massachusetts, known for his strong abolitionist stance and advocacy for African American civil rights. He was a major proponent of harsh Reconstruction policies.
Grasp of War – A legal concept asserting that the federal government had authority over the Southern states as a result of their rebellion, justifying continued military occupation and federal intervention in Reconstruction.
14th Amendment – Ratified in 1868, this amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including formerly enslaved people, and guaranteed equal protection under the law.
Military Reconstruction Act – A series of laws passed in 1867 that divided the South into five military districts governed by Union generals, requiring states to draft new constitutions ensuring Black suffrage before rejoining the Union.
Tenure of Office Act – A law passed by Congress in 1867 that restricted the President from removing certain government officials without Senate approval, leading to Andrew Johnson’s impeachment crisis.
Command of the Army Act – A law passed in 1867 that limited the President’s control over the military by requiring orders to go through the top-ranking general, weakening Johnson’s power over Reconstruction enforcement.
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson – Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives in 1868 for violating the Tenure of Office Act but was acquitted in the Senate by one vote, narrowly avoiding removal from office.
Black Reconstruction – A period during Reconstruction when African Americans gained political influence, held public office, and exercised newfound rights, despite facing intense opposition from white supremacists.
Carpetbaggers – A derogatory term for Northerners who moved to the South after the Civil War, often perceived as opportunists seeking to profit from Reconstruction, though many genuinely aimed to help rebuild.
Scalawags – A term used to describe Southern whites who supported Reconstruction and worked with Republicans and the federal government, often viewed as traitors by other Southerners.
Ku Klux Klan – A white supremacist terrorist organization founded during Reconstruction to use violence and intimidation to suppress Black political participation and restore white dominance in the South.
15th Amendment – Ratified in 1870, this amendment granted African American men the right to vote, prohibiting states from denying suffrage based on race, color, or previous servitude.
Civil Rights Act of 1875 – A federal law that prohibited racial discrimination in public accommodations, transportation, and jury service, though it was poorly enforced and later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Rutherford B. Hayes – The Republican candidate who won the disputed 1876 presidential election and ended Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South as part of the Compromise of 1877.
Samuel Tilden – The Democratic candidate in the 1876 election who won the popular vote but lost the presidency after a controversial electoral decision.
Contested Election of 1876 – The election between Hayes and Tilden resulted in disputed electoral votes from several states, leading to a crisis that required Congressional intervention.
Committee to Resolve the 1876 Election – A special 15-member commission composed of Congressmen and Supreme Court justices, created to determine the winner of the contested election.
Resolution of the 1876 Election – The Compromise of 1877 awarded the presidency to Rutherford B. Hayes in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction and allowing Southern states to enforce racial segregation.