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Emancipation Proclamation
Freed all states in the CSA but not those in the Union, avoiding upsetting the border states while weakening the Confederate war effort. It also allowed black men to serve in the Union army, further strengthening the Union war effort. Was a significant step in emancipating all slaves, further marked the Union shift to devastating the CSA instead of bringing it back into the Union, and solidified the shift in war focus to slavery. Contributed to the Draft Riots. -
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Battle of Vicksburg
The Union took control of the Mississippi and split the Confederacy in two. Grant took control of the Union army and total war began, marking a shift in strategy and intent for the Union. Shows the effectiveness of the Anaconda Plan and the weaknesses of the CSA, as the split made transport and coordination impossible for the infrastructurally inferior South that relied on the river to transport goods. Alongside the blockade, this weakened the Southern economy, exports, and funding. -
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Battle of Gettysburg
The bloodiest battle of the Civil War and considered a turning point toward Union victory. Lee, who thought successful invasion would decrease Union morale, never tried to invade again. (Union victory). Gettysburg marked a shift in military strategy during the war as Lee did not attempt any more offensives and Vicksburg fell the next day. -
Radical Reconstruction Begins
In contrast to the lenient approaches of Johnson and Lincoln, RR involved military reorganization of the South, removed govts in states that had not ratified the 14th Amendment, and instituted new govts and forced those states to allow African Americans the vote. Sustained the Freedmen's Bureau, allowing freedmen to find jobs, family, and move states. Was somewhat a bid for political power, as many freedmen would vote Republican and tip the balance of power. Was meant to be harsh on former CSA. -
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Rise of the First KKK
A racist secret society meant to intimidate freedmen out of voting and maintain white supremacy. By 1867, they began enforcing the Black Codes, and by 1869, it was a full organization with a grand wizard, Nathan Forrest, former CSA general. Provides a notable example of white reactions to Reconstruction and African American civil rights and motivated the Force Acts (particularly the KKK Act of 1871). It was revived by The Birth of a Nation in 1915. -
13th Amendment ratified
Freed all slaves in the US, but allowed slavery as punishment for a crime, which becomes significant when we consider the prison-industrial complex. Prompted the Black Codes and resentment throughout the South, in abolishing slavery laid the foundations for sharecropping and debt peonage, increased violence against African Americans formerly protected by being "another man's property", and contributed to the rise of the KKK as white supremacy and Democrat authority in the South was challenged. -
Black Codes Enacted
Laws restricting the rights of African Americans passed in former CSA states. They limited the property African Americans could own, enacted vagrancy laws, labor contracts, prohibited interracial marriage, etc. Restricted the progress made by Reconstruction Acts and amendments, kept black people in poverty, and maintained the previous labor system of the South. -
Johnson Vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1866
The act was a response to the Black Codes, meant to protect the rights of freedmen by giving the federal government power to protect civil rights and punish those who infringed on them. It was later superseded by the 14th Amendment. Contributed to Radical Republican dislike for him and his impeachment and slowed the progress of African American rights (although the veto was overturned by Congress for the first time in US history). -
Failed impeachment of Johnson
Johnson pardoned over 10,000 Confederates, vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Freedmen's Bureau Act, and protected states' rights, earning him the ire of RRs in Congress. Because he kept interfering, Radical Republicans tried and failed to impeach him under the Tenure of Office Act, which was ruled unconstitutional. Shows the legislative sloppiness and partisan politics of the RRs, the extent of their power, & differences between presidential and congressional reconstruction. -
14th Amendment Ratified
Granted citizenship to those born or naturalized within the US, exempted the US from debts to former CSA states, and prevented former Confederates from re-entry into the govt by barring those who had fought/sworn an oath against the Union from public office. Gave the federal govt power to enforce the rights of African Americans, ensured due process for African Americans, and laid a legal foundation for future court cases. -
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Grant passes the Force Acts
Made it a federal offense to interfere with someone's right to vote as a response to the KKK's use of political intimidation to disenfranchise freedmen. They allowed the federal govt to interfere in state and local elections. His indifference toward enforcing the Force Acts signified the end of Reconstruction due to waning support from the population and govt. They were also a drastic expansion of power and contributed to resentment in the South (especially alongside military reorganization.) -
15th Amendment Ratified
Meant to support and further enshrine the rights in the 14th Amendment. Prohibited voting restrictions based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude (slavery). It was the last of the Reconstruction Amendments but was challenged by poll taxes, grandfather clauses, literacy tests, and other means of disenfranchising freedmen. However, it would serve as the foundation future progress in civil rights, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1965. -
Colfax Massacre
The largest political massacre against Reconstruction policies. In Louisiana, African Americans and whites elected a candidate and white vigilantes killed 100 people to overturn the election. Provides a clear example of racist violence during Reconstruction and the opposition of white Southerners to the enfranchisement of freedmen. -
Radical Reconstruction Ends
Radical Reconstruction ended with the Compromise of 1877, which ended military occupation of the South and contributed funds to Southern infrastructure (like railroads) in exchange for Hayes (a Republican) becoming president. It meant that many of the acts passed would fail to be enforced and African Americans would continue to suffer poverty and discrimination. Although Reconstruction was important, it was not entirely a success and suffered due to political corruption and fatigue.