Constitutional Amendments

The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments were passed during the Reconstruction Era to abolish slavery, guarantee citizenship and equal protection, and protect voting rights for African American men

Radical Republicans and President Andrew Johnson

Clash over Reconstruction policies

Radical Republicans and President Andrew Johnson disagreed on the best approach for Reconstruction, leading to political turmoil and Johnson's impeachment

Compromise of 1877

The Compromise of 1877 marked the end of Reconstruction and left the fate of African Americans uncertain

Freedmen's Bureau

The Freedmen's Bureau provided essential services to former slaves, such as education, healthcare, and legal assistance, during the Reconstruction Era

Transition from slavery to free labor

Challenges of sharecropping

Sharecropping became a widespread practice during the Reconstruction Era, trapping many African Americans in a cycle of debt and economic dependency

Establishment of African American institutions

Schools and churches became important institutions for African Americans during the Reconstruction Era, providing education and serving as platforms for civil rights activism

Opposition from Southern whites

Formation of white supremacist groups

Southern whites formed groups like the Ku Klux Klan to undermine African American civil rights through violence and intimidation during the Reconstruction Era

Federal government's withdrawal from the South

The federal government's initial efforts to protect civil rights during Reconstruction were eventually curtailed, leading to the withdrawal of federal troops and the establishment of Jim Crow laws

Legacy of Jim Crow

The end of Reconstruction and the establishment of Jim Crow laws had a lasting impact on race relations in the United States, leading to systemic racial discrimination that persisted for generations