Understanding Reconstruction: A Historical Overview

What major social change was initiated during Reconstruction in the 1860s?

• Establishment of universal education

• Expansion of overseas territories

• Introduction of industrial technology

• Granting of voting rights to black men

Who was the first black man elected to the U.S. Senate during Reconstruction?

• Frederick Douglass

• George Henry White

• Hyrum Revels

• Joseph Rainey

Approximately how many black officeholders served during Reconstruction?

• Nearly 3,000

• More than 2,000

• About 1,000

• Over 500

What was a major consequence of the rollback of Reconstruction achievements?

• Improved relations between North and South

• Expansion of educational opportunities

• Increase in economic prosperity

• Decrease in political representation for black Americans

By 1900, how many black Congress members remained?

• Seven

• Five

• One

• None

Who was the last black Congressman of the era when he left office in 1901?

• Blanche K. Bruce

• Joseph Rainey

• Hyrum Revels

• George Henry White

In which decade did black Americans have to fight again to reclaim certain rights initially granted during Reconstruction?

• 1920s

• 1940s

• 1960s

• 1980s

What does the history of Reconstruction remind us about civil rights?

• They are not influenced by politics

• They are easily maintained

• They can be permanently secured

• They must be continually defended

Which is the best description of Reconstruction?

• rebuilding the US after a big earthquake

• a period of rebuilding in the US after the Revolutionary War

• a period of rebuilding in the US after the Civil War

• unfair treatment of African Americans after the Civil War

Which of the following was not a goal of Reconstruction?

• Reunite the North and the South
• Rebuild the South
• Develop the system of sharecropping
• Determine what to do with African Americans