This week we will discuss the aftermath of the Civil War and the Reconstruction of the United States afterwards

Terms:
Reconstruction Amendments– 3 amendments to the US Constitution designed to give blacks the right to freedom, citizenship, and the right to vote after the Civil War.
13th Amendment-outlawed slavery in all states, as well as peonage, where people were forced to work to pay off debts.
14th Amendment-granted citizenship and equal civil rights to anyone born in the US or anyone who wants to be a citizen of the US, including former slaves.
15th Amendment-gave all male citizens the right to vote, regardless of race, color, or former servitude.
Impeachment-to charge someone in public office with misconduct.
Freedman’s Bureau(1865-1872)-Congress’ plan to help 4,000,000 freed slaves transition to freedom. It provided food, education, and medical help. More than 1000 black schools were built during this time, including HBCU’s like Howard University and Morehouse College.
Carpetbaggers-a person from the northern states who went to the South after the Civil War to profit from the Reconstruction. Many become politicians who could be bought off for vote for their causes.
Sharecropping-poor blacks and whites rented land from landowners, who overcharged them for the land and materials. This kept the poor blacks and whites from ever getting ahead where they could buy their own land.
Ku Klux Klan-a secret organization of whites who intimidated blacks by burning their homes and churches and committing violence against them.
Black Codes-laws passed to restrict the rights of freed African Americans.