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Radical Republicans
The Radical Republicans were members of the Republican Party. Their goals were to gain emancipation of the slaves and equal treatment of African Americans. This had contextual value because these ideas were considered "radical".
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Radical-Republican
In the article, it states that their power was threatened by Andrew Johnson. This shows that their persistence eventually helped gain more equality for African Americans, changing the political climate. -
Lincoln's Plan for Reconstruction (Ten Percent Plan)
The Ten Percent plan was a plan made by President Lincoln that promised amnesty for all Southerners who take an oath of loyalty and accept the end of slavery, excluding former Confederate officials. It had contextual value because it was the foundation of the Reconstruction era. https://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/reconstruction/section1/
In this article, the author reiterates what the Ten Percent Plan was as well as describing its effects on the rest of the Reconstruction. -
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Reconstruction
The Reconstruction was a series of attempts to mend the United States after the Civil War. Its origins begin with President Lincoln and the Ten-Percent Plan. The Reconstruction had contextual value because it changed the American landscape politically, economically, and socially. https://www.britannica.com/event/Reconstruction-United-States-history -
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Lincoln's Reconstruction
Lincoln's Reconstruction was President Lincoln's attempt at fixing the damage that the Civil War had done. His goal was to weaken the Confederacy. This had contextual value because it helped create a balance of power.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Reconstruction-United-States-history
In the article, it states that Lincoln believed that African Americans had the right to vote. This validated the view that other Americans had and helped create the pathway towards voting equality. -
Wade-Davis Bill
The Wade-Davis Bill was an alternative to Lincoln's plan proposed by the Radical Republicans required that 50 percent of a state's white males take a loyalty oath to be readmitted to the Union. This has contextual value because it would have forced states to give African Americans the right to vote, but was vetoed. https://www.britannica.com/event/Wade-Davis-Bill
In this article, it compares the two stances on the bill that people took. It compares and explains the outcomes of either stance. -
Special Field Order 15
Special Field Order 15 was a military order to confiscate land along the Atlantic were free slaves would settle. This had contextual value because it showed that people believed that slaves should not have any rights, influencing future unjust laws. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Field-Order-No-15
In the article, it states that the idea of "40 acres and mule" was stillborn. This shows that there were many empty promises made and that there would continue to be. -
Freedmen's Bureau
The Freemen's Bureau was a controversial organization that helped newly freed African Americans to adapt to the free life. It has contextual value because it was considered the response to the refugee crisis and the effects of the Civil War. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/freedmens-bureau
In the article, it states that many people opposed the Freedmen's Bureau. The bureau was underfunded because of the persistent negative attitudes people still had towards African Americans. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was an amendment to the Constitution that banned slavery in the United States. It has contextual value because it was the answer to the long-term conflict in the United States between the North and the South and would lead to the Black Codes. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/thirteenth-amendment
In the article, it states how the amendment never saw final ratification because of Lincoln's assassination. This shows that the conflict was still very present. -
President Lincoln's Death
President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. This has contextual value because it was the end of Lincoln's progressive ideas. https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/abraham-lincoln-assassination
In the article, it is stated that John Wilkes Booth was a Confederate sympathizer. It can be assumed that John Wilkes Booth wanted to stop the 13th Amendment from being ratified because of the timing. This shows how divided the country still was because of the Civil War. -
Black Codes
The Black Codes were restrictive laws against African Americans to limit their rights. This has contextual value because it showed the continued fight for equality, even after the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights Bill of 1866. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-codes
In the article, it states that the north was very outraged over the Black Codes. During this time, the Ku Klux Klan was still very active. The two extremes eventually lead to the 15th Amendment. -
Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan was a white supremacist group in the south. This has contextual value because it would lead to the Enforcement Acts and the beginning of supremacy groups. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ku-Klux-Klan
In the article, it states that the Ku Klux Klan also discriminated against other minority groups, like Jews. This shows how stubborn people in the south's views were. It also showed the negative lasting effects of slavery in the United States and the struggle for equality. -
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Presidential (Johnson) Reconstruction
The Presidential Reconstruction was President Andrew Johnson's attempt at fixing the damage of the Civil War as well as the Lincoln Reconstruction. His goals were amnesty for all Southerners who take an oath of loyalty. https://www.britannica.com/event/Reconstruction-United-States-history
In the article, it states that Johnson excluded slaves in his Reconstruction. This shows how different the outcomes of Lincoln's and Johnson's Reconstructions would be. -
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Scalawags
Scalawags were white Southern Republicans. Their goal was to strengthen the Republican party. This had contextual value because it showed what the South believed in politically. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/the-south-after-reconstruction/
In the article, it states that scalawag was a derogatory term. This shows that the group may not have been very popular with others. -
Civil Rights Bill of 1866
The Civil Rights Bill of 1866 was an act that granted citizenship to all people born in the United States, except Native Americans. It has contextual value because it overrode the Black Codes and prompted the 14th Amendment. https://www.thoughtco.com/civil-rights-act-of-1866-4164345
In the article, it states that this bill was the beginning towards equality for African Americans. They still could not vote even though citizens could vote, but only white males, which lead to the 14th Amendment. -
Reconstruction Acts
The Reconstruction Acts were measures that outlined the conditions under which the Southern states would be readmitted to the Union. This has contextual value because it was an attempt to improve the Union after the Civil War while controlling the laws in the South. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Reconstruction-Acts
In the article, it states that these acts were also called the military reconstruction acts. This shows the amount of control the military had over the nation and their duality. -
Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson
President Andrew Johnson was charged with violation of tenure of office act, resulting in his impeachment. This has contextual value because it showed the power of the House of Representatives. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/grant-impeachment/
In the article, it states the Andrew Johnson often stated that the government was for white men. His impeachment showed the end of that idea and made the country more aware of minorities struggles for equality in an unjust society. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to everyone born in the US and declared that no state could deprive any person of natural rights. This had contextual value because it resulted in more violence in the south.
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fourteenth-amendment
In the article, it states that public segregation did not violate the 14th amendment (Plessy v Ferguson). Although it was ratified, there were still arguments about its validity. This eventually led to the Jim Crow laws. -
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Congressional/Military Reconstruction
The Congressional Reconstruction was the military's attempt at fixing the damage of the Civil War and the previous Reconstructions. Its goals were to abolish slavery, reject Confederate debts, and keep Confederates out of office. This had contextual value because it showed the dawn of a new major political view.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Reconstruction-United-States-history
In the article, it says that race was not regarded, showing an unbiased political view and what that would bring. -
Great Constitutional Revolution
The Great Constitutional Revolution was the belief Carl Schurz had that reconstruction transformed the language of freedom. This had contextual value because it would inspire more action in the government focused on equality. http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/foner2/contents/ch15/documents01.asp
In the article, it states that the Great Constitutional Revolution broke the connection between race and citizenship. This showed that the ideas from pre-Civil War were not as prevalent. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment declared that the right to vote shall not be denied on account of race, color, or previous. This had contextual value because it brought thousands of African Americans into politics for the first time.
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fifteenth-amendment
In the article, it states that the 15th Amendment was largely ignored until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This shows the double standard that white people did not face the same consequences of the law. -
Sharecropping
Sharecropping was a system of farming in which a landowner rents land to a farmer and receives some of the profit made. This has contextual value because it mimicked slavery in some ways and had influences of the Black Codes. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/sharecropping
In the article, it states that sharecropping locked the south into a reliance on cotton. This continued to grow the cotton industry and the wealth of landowners. -
Enforcement Acts
The Enforcement Acts prohibited the states from discriminating against voters because of race. This had contextual value because it was a step forward in equality for African Americans. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/EnforcementActs.htm
In the article, it is stated that the Enforcement Acts were largely to stop violence associated with the Ku Klux Klan. This shows that the violence was so large that it could only be stopped by the government. -
Slaughterhouse Cases
The Slaughterhouse cases were a series of Supreme Court cases that rendered the 14th Amendment useless. This had contextual value because it erased all the work that had been done in terms of equality.
https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-slaughterhouse-cases-interpreting-the-reconstruction-amendments
In the article, it states that some people have to seek substantive rights protection, even still today. This shows that the government has always seemed to cater to one group of people. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was an act that repealed Black Codes and prohibited racial discrimination in jury selection. This had contextual value because it showed continued strides for equality. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/CivilRightsAct1875.htm
In the article, it states that the act was later declared unconstitutional. This showed that the government was still not equal for everyone. The act gave people false hope because it was passed for only a few years. -
Bargain of 1877
The Bargain of 1877 was a compromise between Democrats and Republicans in the Congress. This had contextual value because it gave the Democrats and the Republicans an equal amount of power in Congress. https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/compromise-of-1877#section_1
In the article, it states the Bargain of 1877 was the end of the Reconstruction era. Although it was the end of the Reconstruction era, decisions like the Jim Crow laws would continue to tear the nation apart.
