Reconstruction Era: Key Amendments and Policies

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What is the Reconstruction Era in U.S. history?

The Reconstruction Era was the period following the Civil War, during which the United States attempted to address the issues of reintegrating Southern states and defining the rights of newly freed African Americans.

What are the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments?

They are Constitutional amendments that abolished slavery (13th), granted citizenship and equal protection under the law (14th), and secured voting rights for African American men (15th).

What was the purpose of the Freedmen’s Bureau?

The Freedmen’s Bureau was established to assist freed slaves and poor whites in the South by providing food, housing, education, and medical care.

What was the significance of the Civil Rights Act of 1866?

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was the first U.S. federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law.

How did the Southern states respond to Reconstruction policies?

Many Southern states enacted Black Codes to restrict the freedoms of African Americans and maintain a labor force similar to slavery.

What were the Black Codes?

Laws passed by Southern states during Reconstruction to restrict African Americans' freedom and compel them to work in a labor economy based on low wages or debt.

Who were the Radical Republicans?

Radical Republicans were a faction within the Republican Party who advocated for the complete and thorough emancipation of African Americans and wanted to ensure their rights during Reconstruction.

What was President Andrew Johnson’s approach to Reconstruction?

President Andrew Johnson favored a lenient approach to Reconstruction, pardoning many former Confederates and opposing Radical Republicans’ initiatives.

What led to the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson?

Johnson's impeachment was driven by his violation of the Tenure of Office Act and frequent clashes with Congress over Reconstruction policies.

What were the Military Reconstruction Acts?

These were laws that divided the South into five military districts governed by Union generals to enforce order and protect the rights of freedmen.

What role did the Ku Klux Klan play during Reconstruction?

The Ku Klux Klan, formed in 1866, sought to undermine Reconstruction by using terror and violence to restore white supremacy in the South.

What was the Compromise of 1877?

The Compromise of 1877 resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election, leading to the end of Reconstruction as federal troops withdrew from the South.

How did Reconstruction change the Southern economy?

Reconstruction led to a diversified Southern economy with new industries, while sharecropping emerged as a dominant, albeit exploitative, agricultural system.

What is sharecropping, and why did it become common post-Civil War?

Sharecropping was a system where freed slaves and poor whites farmed land owned by others in exchange for a share of the crops. It became common due to the lack of capital and land among freedmen.

What were the long-term impacts of the Reconstruction Era?

The Reconstruction Era led to significant, albeit temporary, advancements in civil rights for African Americans, but its successes were gradually dismantled, giving rise to the Jim Crow laws.

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