Lecture 2 Reconstruction Era Amendments

Lecture 2: Reconstruction Era Amendments to the US Constitution

Multiple Choice

Who were the Radical Republicans and how did they shape the South following the Civil War?

• faction of the Republican Party who advocated for civil rights and equality for freed slaves

• The Radical Republicans were known for their efforts to limit the rights of freed slaves in the South, they established terror groups such as the White League and the KKK

• The Radical Republicans were a group that supported slavery and segregation in the South.
• The Radical Republicans were in favor of dismantling the Reconstruction policies and restoring power to former Confederate leaders.

Black Americans Civic Life

After the Civil War

• During Reconstruction African Americans played important roles as voters and as elected officials.

• Southern whites who supported Republicans were called scalawags, and Northern whites who moved to the South after the war were called carpetbaggers.

• Secret societies such as the Ku Klux Klan used fear and violence to deny rights to freed men and women.

Black Codes and Civil Rights

Events in the South strengthened the Radicals' determination. By early 1866, legislatures in the Southern states had passed laws called black codes. These laws were designed to help control the newly freed African Americans. Some black codes made it illegal for African Americans to own or rent farms. The laws also made it easy for white employers to take advantage of African American workers. Some black codes allowed officials to fine or even arrest African Americans who did not have jobs. To freed men and women and their supporters, life under the black codes was little better than slavery.

An argument between white law enforcement officers and African Americans who had served in the Union army turned into a three-day race riot in Memphis, Tennessee, in early May 1866. The riot resulted in the deaths of 46 African Americans and 2 whites. Some 75 people were wounded and 103 buildings were burned—including 4 churches and 8 schools. No one was ever brought to trial.

Memphis Riots

​Another race riot flared up in New Orleans in July 1866. Republican delegates were meeting to discuss African Americans’ rights. They were joined by hundreds of local supporters, many of whom were African American war veterans. White Southerners attacked the meeting and killed 37 people.

​New Orleans Riots

Freedmen's Bureau

Congress creates protections for Black Americans

At the same time, Congress tried to protect the rights of the South's African Americans. In 1866 it passed a bill that gave the Freedmen's Bureau new powers. The Bureau could now set up special courts to try persons charged with violating African Americans' rights. African Americans could sit on the juries in these courts and judge accused white Southerners.

• Fourteenth Amendment

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." 

This language protected the citizenship extended to African Americans by the Civil Rights Act of 1866. It guaranteed that citizenship could not later be taken away by passing another law. The amendment made it clear that if a state barred any adult male citizen from voting, that state could lose some representation in Congress.

Citizenship Clause

​In 1870 Senator Hiram Revels of Mississippi and Representative Joseph Rainey of South Carolina became the first African Americans to serve in Congress. Since then, more than 130 African Americans have served as U.S. Representatives or Senators.

​Black Americans in Congress

Election of 1868

Ulysses S. Grant becomes president

Most Southern states had rejoined the Union by the time the presidential election of 1868 drew near. Most Americans hoped that the turbulent period of Reconstruction was over. The Republican Party rejected Johnson and instead nominated Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant. The Democrats chose New York governor Horatio Seymour as their candidate. Most African American voters supported Grant, and he won the presidency. The election results also showed that voters continued to support Radical Reconstruction.

15th Amendment

Congress approves and States ratify new protections

Congress took one more major step in Reconstruction in 1869 when it proposed the Fifteenth Amendment. This amendment guaranteed that state and federal governments could not deny the right to vote to any male citizen because of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." When the states ratified the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870, Republicans thought their job was largely done. However this belief would prove to be too optimistic.

• 15th Amendment

" The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude–The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." 

Multiple Choice

Who was Hiram Revels?

• First African American to serve in the United States House of Representatives
• First African American elected to state governor

• First African American to serve in the United States Senate
• First African American President of the United States

Multiple Choice

What threats did African Americans continue to face in the South, and what measures did Congress take to deal with these threats?

• African Americans faced economic prosperity, social acceptance, and political power.
• Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1865 to address threats faced by African Americans.
• The threats African Americans faced included free education, healthcare, and housing.
• violence, intimidation, and discrimination. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1875 to address these threats

Multiple Choice

What did the Radical Republicans do to put their Reconstruction program into practice?

• Established the Freedmen's Bureau
• Signed the Compromise of 1877
• Passed the Reconstruction Acts of 1867, impeached President Andrew Johnson
• Supported the Black Codes

Multiple Choice

How did violence in the south lead to the passing of new protections by Radical Republicans in Congress?

• Violence in the north led to the passing of new protections by Radical Republicans in Congress.
• Violence in the west led to the passing of new protections by Radical Republicans in Congress.
• Violence in the east led to the passing of new protections by Radical Republicans in Congress.
• Violence in the south led to the passing of new protections by Radical Republicans in Congress.

Multiple Choice

How would you describe the trend of African Americans serving in Congress between the Civil War and 1900?

• Significant
• Stagnant
• Declining
• Rising then declining

Multiple Choice

When did Florida rejoin the Union following the Civil War?

• June 25, 1868
• March 30, 1867
• July 4, 1865
• September 13, 1870

Multiple Choice

Which of the following Amendments are considered Reconstruction Era amendments?

• 19th, 20th, and 21st Amendments
• 16th, 17th, and 18th Amendments
• 10th, 11th, and 12th Amendments
• 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

Multiple Choice

What main protection did the 14th Amendment offer to Black Americans for the first time?

• Right to own property
• Right to vote
• Right to free speech
• Equal protection under the law

Poll

How well did you understand this topic?

• I can teach this to someone else

• I get it

• I'm processing

• I need to repeat the lesson