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Dec 6, 2023
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RECONSTRUCTION TIMELINE
1865
The Civil War ends.
Republican President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated. Democrat Andrew
Johnson becomes president.
13th Amendment to the Constitution passes.
Congress creates the Freedmen’s Bureau to help freedmen and women
transition from slavery.
1866
Civil Rights Act of 1866 allows African Americans to own property and to be
treated equally in court.
The Ku Klux Klan is founded.
1867
Radical Republicans take over the United States government.
1868
14th Amendment to the Constitution passes.
First African American elected to United States Congress.
1869
Ulysses S. Grant is elected president.
1870
15th Amendment to the Constitution passes.
Congress passes the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 in response to reports of
widespread violence in the South.
1872
The Freedmen’s Bureau ends.
1874
Democrats take control of the United States Congress.
Radical Republicans are no longer in power.
1877
Rutherford B. Hayes is elected President and officially ends Reconstruction.
Hayes pulls all remaining Northern troops out of the Southern states.
STANFORD HISTORY EDUCATION GROUP
sheg.stanford.edu
Document D: Elected Black Officials during Reconstruction
During Reconstruction, thousands of African Americans were elected to local
and state governments throughout the Southern states. In addition, 17 African
Americans were elected to the United States Congress from Southern states
between 1870 and 1877. Here are photographs of 6 of these 17 elected
Officials.
STANFORD HISTORY EDUCATION GROUP
sheg.stanford.edu
Guiding Questions
Document A: The Reconstruction Amendments
1. When were the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments passed?
The 13th Amendment was passed in 1865, the 14th Amendment was passed in 1868, and the
15th Amendment was passed in 1870.
2. Why do you think they were passed?
In my opinion, the purpose of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments was to protect African
Americans' civil rights in the wake of the Civil War. The 13th Amendment outlawed slavery, the
14th Amendment guaranteed equal legal protection and due process, and the 15th Amendment
guaranteed the right to vote to all people, regardless of race, color, or history of slavery.
3. What rights did they guarantee for American citizens?
The 13th Amendment guaranteed the right to be free from slavery or involuntary servitude. The
14th Amendment guaranteed equal protection under the law and due process, ensuring equal
rights for all citizens. The 15th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote without discrimination
based on race, color, or previous servitude, extending voting rights to African American men.
Document B: Black Codes
1. When were these Black Codes written? Who do you think wrote these laws?
The Black Codes were written on the 3rd day of July, 1865. These laws were likely written and
enacted by the white authorities and governments in the Southern states following the Civil War.
2. List three things that freed men and women were not allowed to do according to the
Black Codes.
1.
Enter the town of Opelousas without special permission from their employers.
2.
Be on the streets of Opelousas after 10 o'clock at night without a written pass or permit
from their employers
3.
Rent or keep a house within the town, and those who did were to be ejected and
compelled to leave within twenty-four hours.
3. Why would white Southerners pass laws that controlled the movement of African
Americans? What would happen if African Americans left the South in huge
Numbers?
STANFORD HISTORY EDUCATION GROUP
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In order to retain social and economic dominance over African Americans, White Southerners
enacted laws such as the Black Codes, which effectively replaced the pre-Civil War system of
slavery with a new form of oppression. These regulations were intended to ensure newly freed
African Americans' reliance on white landowners and employers by restricting their freedom and
privileges. Large-scale African American migration out of the South would upend the region's
labor force and pose a serious threat to its labor-intensive and agricultural economy.
4. How do these laws help you to understand what life was like in Louisiana and other
Southern states after the Civil War?
These Black Codes reveal the harsh and oppressive conditions that African Americans endured
in Louisiana after the Civil War. They illustrate a system designed to limit their basic rights and
freedoms, including restrictions on movement, housing, employment, and assembly, reflecting a
deeply unequal and discriminatory society that persisted in the post-war South.
Document C: Henry Adams’s Statement
1. Who wrote this document? When and why was it written?
This document was written by Henry Adams, and it was written in 1880. The purpose of the
document is to recount the events and experiences he faced in the aftermath of the Civil War,
particularly the hostility, violence, and discrimination he encountered.
2. According to Adams, what was life like for freedmen and women after the Civil War?
According to Henry Adams, life for freedmen and women after the Civil War was marked by
continued oppression, violence, and degrading treatment. Freed individuals faced constant
threats to their lives and were subjected to physical abuse and harassment by white individuals
who were intent on maintaining control and asserting racial dominance.
STANFORD HISTORY EDUCATION GROUP
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3. Do you trust the account in this document? Why or why not?
The account in this document appears credible, as it provides a detailed and personal narrative
of the events and experiences of the author, Henry Adams. His description of the racial
discrimination and violence he and others faced in the post-Civil War South aligns with historical
records of the challenges African Americans encountered during the Reconstruction era
Document D: African American Political Representation
1.
What does this information about African-American politicians tell you about what life
was like for African Americans during Reconstruction?
The election of thousands of African Americans to local and state governments, as well as 17 to
the United States Congress, during Reconstruction highlights a significant advancement in their
political participation and representation. It indicates that African Americans were actively
engaged in civic life and sought to influence the political landscape.
Document E: Education
1. Why do you think education was important to former slaves during Reconstruction?
During Reconstruction, education was crucial for former slaves for a number of reasons. First of
all, it provided them with the chance to learn and develop the skills necessary for both their
personal and professional growth, enabling them to break the cycle of illiteracy and restricted
options that had been imposed upon them throughout their time as slaves. Second, education
was considered a way to strengthen African Americans socially and politically so they could
actively defend their rights and take part in the democratic process. Lastly, education offered a
route to improved economic opportunities and the capacity to become self-sufficient, especially
through skilled work and property ownership, which were highly prized by the community of
former slaves.
2. How does this description of life for freedmen compare to Henry Adams’s statement?
This description of life for freedmen, as provided by Sidney Andrews, contrasts with Henry
Adams's account in Document C. Andrews' report suggests that many freedmen were eager to
own land, acquire education, and actively seek opportunities for self-improvement. In contrast,
Henry Adams's statement portrays a harsh and oppressive environment where African
Americans faced discrimination, violence, and restrictions on their freedom. These accounts
reflect the diversity of experiences and aspirations among African Americans during the
Reconstruction era.
STANFORD HISTORY EDUCATION GROUP
sheg.stanford.edu