Reconstruction- Textbook Questions

How was slavery abolished throughout the entire United States?

• by individual state laws

• by the Emancipation Proclamation

• by ratification of the 13th Amendment

• by guaranteeing that the Bill of Rights was applied to state actions

Answer explanation

Slavery was abolished throughout the entire United States by the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865, which legally prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude, making it the definitive legal end to slavery.

What did the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution do?

• It prohibited secession.

• It banned slavery in all states.

• It gave African-American men the right to vote.

• It required former Confederate states to ratify the 13th and 14th Amendments

Answer explanation

The 15th Amendment granted African-American men the right to vote, ensuring that voting rights could not be denied based on race or color. This was a significant step towards equality following the Civil War.

Using this excerpt from the 14th Amendment to answer this question,

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United Sates and of the state wherein they reside”

What was protected by the Amendment?

• women's suffrage

• voting rights for African Americans

• discriminatory laws such as poll taxes

• citizenship for newly freed African Americans

Answer explanation

The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., specifically protecting newly freed African Americans by affirming their status as citizens.

Using this excerpt for the 15th Amendment to answer this question,

“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.”

How did Jim Crow laws bypass the intent of this amendment?

• by creating barriers that restricted voting

• by fiercely protecting racially segregated schools

• by refusing to certify the victories of Democratic candidates

• by declining through state law that voting was a privilege reserved for white citizens

Answer explanation

Jim Crow laws bypassed the 15th Amendment by creating barriers that restricted voting, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, effectively disenfranchising Black citizens despite the amendment's protections against racial discrimination.

Which rights were NOT included in the three Reconstruction Amendments to the Constitution?

• equal protection under the law

• full citizenship rights for African Americans

• voting rights for women

• protection against being re-enslaved

Answer explanation

The three Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) focused on abolishing slavery, granting citizenship, and voting rights for African American men. They did not address voting rights for women, which came later.

Which issue showed the division in the Reconstruction policies of Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and Radical Republicans?

• how to treat defeated southern states and leaders

• whether the country should remain divided or reunite

• how to pay off Civil War debts owed to foreign countries

• whether slavery should be extended into all parts of the country

Answer explanation

The division in Reconstruction policies primarily revolved around how to treat defeated southern states and leaders. Lincoln favored leniency, Johnson continued this approach, while Radical Republicans sought harsher measures.

What was the primary effect of the Civil Rights Act of 1866?

• Native Americans were given full equality and citizenship.

• Johnson vetoed the bill so that it could not be enacted.

• African American men were given immediate and universal voting rights.

• Men and women of all races were granted full citizenship regardless of race.

Answer explanation

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 granted full citizenship to men and women of all races, ensuring equality under the law, which was a significant step towards civil rights for African Americans and other marginalized groups.

Use the political cartoon to answer the question.

Which group from the Reconstruction era was the cartoonist criticizing?

• Civil War veterans who demanded a pension

• white northerners who profited off the South

• former enslavers who refused to profess loyalty

• newly freed African Americans who attempted to vote

Answer explanation

The cartoon criticizes white northerners who profited off the South during Reconstruction, highlighting their exploitation of the region rather than supporting its recovery.

Which statement BEST reflects a major effect of Black codes on newly freed African Americans?

• They led to massive protests across the South.

• They allowed for a smooth transition to freedom.

• They caused a push to elect Democratic leaders.

• They restricted African Americans' labor and activity.

Answer explanation

The Black codes severely limited the rights and freedoms of newly freed African Americans, restricting their labor opportunities and activities, which reflects the oppressive nature of these laws.

How did Radical Republicans in Congress influence the course of Reconstruction?

• They blocked several attempts to amend the Constitution.

• They advocated for a quick return to a pre-war status quo.

• They pushed for more rights for newly freed African Americans.

• They converted most white southerners to the Republican Party.

Answer explanation

Radical Republicans in Congress significantly influenced Reconstruction by advocating for more rights for newly freed African Americans, pushing for legislation like the Civil Rights Act and the 14th Amendment to ensure their protection and equality.