Transcript Slide 1
Reconstruction Terms • Reconstruction- reorganizing and bringing the seceded states back into the Union after the Civil War • Freedman- a person who has been freed from slavery • Amendment- to change or modify a law, bill, or document • Ratify- to approve • Civil rights- rights belonging to all citizens • Martial law- rule by an army instead of the usual civil authorities Black Codes Laws limiting the rights of African Americans passed during Reconstruction by the South. Assigned African Americans to second-class status. Juneteenth • June 19, 1865, Gen. Gordon Granger issued a proclamation freeing the slaves in Texas. June 19th is a state holiday. Freedmen’s Bureau • Organization created to provide food, shelter, education, and medicine for former slaves. • Major contribution was the creation of schools for African Americans Sharecropper • A tenant farmer who receives a share of the value of the crop, minus charges for rent and other expenses. • After the Civil War, Texas’ economy became a sharecropping based economy. Ku Klux Klan • Secret group who wanted to restore Democratic control in the South and to keep former slaves powerless. They attacked African Americans and white Republicans. They rode on horseback and were dressed in white robes and hoods and beat people and burned homes. th 13 Amendment (1865) • "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude...shall exist within the United States." • Formally abolished slavery (Free) th 14 Amendment (1868) • All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. • (Citizens) th 15 Amendment (1870) • The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. • was supposed to guarantee the right to vote to former slaves while barring discrimination on the basis of racial origin or skin color at the same time. (Vote) Reconstruction Amendments • 13th Amendment (Free) • 14th Amendment (Citizens) • 15th Amendment (Vote) TX Constitutions after the Civil War • Constitution of 1866- Changed most of constitution back to the way it had been before secession, canceled state debts from war, and ended slavery in TX. Refused to ratify 13th amendment and denied civil rights to African Americans, including the right to vote. U.S. Congress did not accept this constitution and refused to admit TX back into the Union. TX Constitutions cont. • Constitution of 1869- Declared U.S. Constitution the law. Guaranteed the right of all men to vote regardless of race, color, or former condition. TX Constitutions cont. • Constitution of 1876- Stripped the governor and legislature of as much power as possible. Legislature can meet only every other year. This constitution limits the ability of the legislature to make changes in government services and powers except by an amendment. It has been amended 467 times as of today. Adopted on February 15, 1876 and is still the constitution we use today. Reconstruction over in Texas • Texas was admitted back into the Union on March 8, 1870, after TX ratified the 14th and 15th amendments.