free at last

• What was the Habeas Corpus Act?


  Required people to be brought before a judge/court, especially for restraint of individual liberty, to prevent illegal imprisonment.
• How was the MRA taken further in March 1868? What supreme court case affirmed this?

  Removed power of SC to review cases which came from introduction of MRA, so Congress had ultimate say. Texas v White in 1869 confirmed congress had power to decide on organisation of state governments.
• What did the Command of the Army Act demand?

  All roders to army from President Johnson had to go through army HQ under control of Ulysses S. Grant (Republican supporter).
• What did the Tenure of Office Act demand?

  Required consent of Republican dominated Senate for president to remove an office-holder.
• What was the impact of the Reconstruction Acts 1867, particularly Military Reconstruction?

  South forced to accept BAs' right to vote and 14th amendment.
• What was the job of the military government from 1867?


  Rule former confed states which didnt have state govs.Implement wishes of federal government and congress.Implement changes required by Freedmen's Bureau.Protecting ex-slaves, scalawags and carpetbaggers from intimidation by southern whites and those in supremacist groups.
• What were scalawags and carpetbaggers?

  Scalawags - white southerner willing to cooperate with reconstruction measures. Mainly small farmers who hadn't owned slaves.Carpetbagger - white northerner who went south to exploit south's economic dislocation after civil war. Encouraged black voters to join Union League and vote for them in state elections.
• How did Southern whites respond to Reconstruction acts?

  Saw them as northern army of occupation. Democrat-controlled state governments in last years of reconstruction were named 'redeemer governments' which rid them of imposed racial, social and political changes.
• What impact did the Reconstruction Acts have on the southern electorate?

  15% potential white voters disenfranchised.703,000 ex-slaves enfranchisedBlack voters outnumbered white by 100,000 with majorities in 5 states.
• What were the three terms of the 14th amendment? And when was it ratified?

  1868Excluded former confed leaders from politics.Said all US citizens entitled to equal protection of the law.Defined what constituted an American citizen: anyone born or naturalised in USA and subject to its rule.
• What supreme court case did the 14th amendment reverse?

  Dred Scott Case - court declared black americans couldn't be USA citizens.
• What immediate impact did the 14th amendment have?

  United republicans in 1866 and helped them win seats in 1866 elections. Formed basis of removal for Johnson's government and replacement with acceptable ones.
• What was the 15th amendment? What were its limits? When was it ratified?

  1870Prohibited federal/state governemnt depriving any US citizen of right to vote on racial grounds. Failed to set uniform voting requirements - still discrimination through literacy, property and education tests.
• What was the Civil Rights Act of 1875? What was its limit?

  Last act of reconstruction in favour of black americans. Supported equality before law for all citizens, justice regardless of race, full enjoyment by all citizens of 'places of public amusement' e.g. inns, theatres.Failed to mention public schooling.
• What was the Slaughterhouse Decision 1873? What did it mean for black Americans?

  Ruled 14th amendment protected rights of national citizenship (e.g. interstate travel), but NOT THE CIVIL RIGHTS awarded by state citizenship. Couldn't safeguard BA rights against state violation.
• What was the 1876 United States v Reese case? What did that mean for the landmark change by Radical Republicans? What happened in 1883?


  Threw out charge against Kentucky official who prevented black Americans from voting, claiming 15th amendment didn't give the right to vote to anyone. In 1883, SC invalidated civil rights act and confirmed US v Reese decision. Effectively negated many RR changes.
• Describe the significance of black American representatives in federal and state legislatures: how many senators and congressmen in House of representatives? What were black representatives accused of?

  Hundreds of ex-slaves took part in political concentions and joined Union Leagues to help republicans. Growing political influence by 1867, but only one convention in South Carolina had black majority. In state gov around 600 BAs were legislators, but none elected state governor. Only two BAs as congress senators, and 14 as congressmen in house of representatives.Accused of being under influence of carpetbaggers and scalawags.
• What was the ideological consequence of new state governments' radical reform?

  Cost millions of dollars and gov accused of incompetence by southern whites, who mostly blamed black representatives. Fuelled white southerners' idea of reconstruction being a failure, partly due to allowing BAs in politics.
• What state was the former confederacy in after the civil war? What did this lead to?

  - 25% white adult male population dead- Large areas devastated e.g. Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia- Economy in ruins, and slave holders lost $2 billion in property- Civil War Amendment and other legislation led to revolution of civil rights and race relations - enforced by military occupation from 1867Led to major white backlash e.g. random attacks and lunchings, the Black Codes and attacks from southern white newspapers.
• When was the KKK formed and what was their goal? How did they evolve?

  24th December 1865 - protect the southern white population and intimidate southern black people. Claimed to maintain chivalry, humanity, mercy and patriotism.
• Who was elected as KKK 'Grand Wizard'?

  Former confederate general, Nathan Forrest
• Give two feature of the KKK as a terrorist organisation?

  - Kept anonymity with hoods and robes- Elaborate rituals and leader names e.g. Grand Cyclops
• Which terrorist organisations operated in Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi , Texas and other states?

  - The Knights of the White Camellia- Red Shirts- The White Line- The Knights of the Rising Sun- The White League in other states
• Who were the targets of white terror groups? Give an example of KKK action for each...

  Black Americans, carpetbaggers, republicans and fed gov officials. - Emanuel Fortune driven out of Jackson County, Florida by KKK, with objective to kill all republicans who supported civil rights legislation for black Americans- 3 scalawag members of Georgia legislature killed by KKK in 1870
• When was the height of KKK violence against black Americans?

  1869-71, any black institution open to attack.- Autumn 1870 - after 15th amendment, almost every black church and school in Tuskegee Alabama burned down.- 1871 - 500 masked men lynched 8 black prisoners is Union County Gaol
• When was the first major period of lynching? What was their goal? What caused rapid decline of lynching?

  1865-71- Began as purge of black Americans in republican party to prevent ratification of new constitutions for south- Notable increase during 1868 elections. 1300 potential voters, black and white, murdered.- Declined after 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act which allowed introduction of martial law in states with active white terror groups
• What was the White League and when was it formed?

  March 1874, Louisiana - seen as military arm of Democrats while Louisiana under federal miliatry occupation.
• What is the most notirous act associated with White League?

  Coushatta Massacre, August 1874: dispute between WL and carpetbagger state senator, Marshall Twitchell sparked forced resignation of 6 republicans and their murder, with five black Americans.
• What did the White League consider their 'greatest triumph'? Date, events, consequences...

  Battle of Liberty Place, 14th Sptember 1874. When President Grant removed Louisiana federal troops due to yellow fever, the WL assembled in New Orleans and demanded resignation of Governor Kellogg and replacement with unsuccessful Democrat candidate, John McEnery.- 5000 WL to 3500 police ousted the governor- Grant dispatched federal troops and reinstated governor- Black and white Louisiana voters denied right to vote until Compromise of 1877 and Louisiana stayed under military rule.
• What was the single biggest killing of black Americans during reconstruction? Who, when, how many killed?

  - Knights of the White Camellia- 1873 Colfax, Louisiana black people drilled with weapons in fear of white terror groups- Easter Sunday, 50 black americans killed by white men with small canon and rifles. - Continued after truce flag raised by BAs, killing 280
• How did congress respond to white terror to protect black americans and their white supporters?

  - 1870 Enforcement Act: penalties against anyone who interfered with a citizen black or white- Second enforcement act: congress elections surveyed by federal election officials- 1871 3rd enforcement act (KKK Act): allowed suspension of Habeas Corpus to arrest members and outlawed activities associated with them e.g. secret conspiracies, disguises and intimidating officials.
• How did President Grant use the enforcement acts to break the back of most white terror activities?

  October 1871 - delcared martial law in 9 counties South Carolina, led to mass prosecutions.
• What was the impact of white terror on level of Democract control in the South? How many states were republican in south by 1875?

  - Undermined republican party in deep south- 1875 elections: Mississippi Democrat rifle clubs aparaded black areas and provoked riots which killed hundreds. Many BAs stayed hidden on election day.- White voters felt alienated by military occupation and impact of black participation.- 1875, only 3 republican state govs remained in the south
• When did reconstruction officially come to an end?

  March 1877 with inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes.
• What was turning point for end of recon? And what happened in 1873?

  - Election of Ulysses S. Grant: far less radical approach to dealing with former condeferacy E.g. Amnesty Act 1972 - pardoned all but most senior officers of former confederacy.- 1873: major depression so northern businessmen pressuring government to normalise relations with south to stimulate economic activity.
• Summarise the presidency battle between Rutherford and Tilden...

  - Rutherford B. Hayes nominated as candidate: sought southern support and believed leaving south alone was best - November 1876, Tilden won most popular votes but one short of electoral college victory (184) so Hayes won- Hayes inaugurated March 1877, marking the end of reconstruction. Reconstruction had failed its main aim and led to white backlash and further racial violence.