Reconstruction Study Guide Flashcards

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What era included the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments?

Back

Reconstruction Era

Answer explanation

Explanation:

The Reconstruction Era happened right after the Civil War, when the country was trying to come back together. During this time, the government made new laws (called amendments) to fix the problems caused by slavery. The 13th Amendment ended slavery, the 14th Amendment made formerly enslaved people citizens, and the 15th Amendment gave African American men the right to vote. These big changes were all part of Reconstruction because it was a time of rebuilding and making things more fair.

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Who was Hiram Rhodes Revels?

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Hiram Rhodes Revels was the first African American U.S. Senator.

Answer explanation

Explanation:

Hiram Rhodes Revels made history during the Reconstruction Era. He became the very first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate. That was a big deal because, before the Civil War, Black people weren’t even allowed to vote, let alone be in government. His election showed that things were starting to change and that African Americans could now be leaders in the country. He represented the state of Mississippi and helped fight for rights and fairness during a really important time.

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What did the Freedmen’s Bureau do?

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The Freedmen's Bureau provided assistance to formerly enslaved people, including food, education, and legal support.

Answer explanation

Explanation:

After the Civil War ended, a lot of formerly enslaved people didn’t have homes, jobs, or education. The Freedmen’s Bureau was a group created by the government to help them get started with their new lives. It gave out food, helped open schools, and offered legal help so people could understand their rights. It was kind of like a safety net to support people who had just gained their freedom and needed help adjusting to life after slavery.

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What is Juneteenth?

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The day slavery ended in Texas

Answer explanation

Explanation:

Juneteenth is short for June 19th, and it marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas finally found out they were free—more than two years after slavery had officially ended in the U.S. Soldiers came to Texas and told everyone that slavery was over. That’s why Juneteenth is such an important celebration—it’s like Freedom Day for African Americans in Texas, and now it’s recognized across the country as a day to celebrate the end of slavery.

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How did the 14th Amendment change the Dred Scott decision?

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It said all people born in the U.S. were citizens

Answer explanation

Explanation:

In the Dred Scott case, the Supreme Court said that Black people couldn’t be citizens, even if they were born in the U.S. That was a terrible decision. But later, the 14th Amendment fixed it by saying that anyone born in the United States is automatically a citizen, no matter their race. This meant that formerly enslaved people were now legally citizens, with rights that the government had to respect. It was a big step toward fairness and equality.

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What was caused by the 15th Amendment?

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African American men could vote

Answer explanation

Explanation:

The 15th Amendment was made after the Civil War to make sure that African American men had the right to vote. Before this, even after slavery ended, many Black men still weren’t allowed to vote just because of their race. The 15th Amendment said that no one could be stopped from voting because of their color, race, or if they were once enslaved. It helped African Americans have a say in government for the first time ever.

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Why did sharecropping become common after slavery ended?

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Southern landowners needed workers

Answer explanation

Explanation:

After slavery ended, Southern landowners still wanted to grow crops like cotton, but they no longer had enslaved people to do the work. At the same time, many freed African Americans needed jobs and places to live. So, landowners came up with a system called sharecropping, where freedmen worked the land and gave part of the crops as payment. It wasn’t slavery, but it still kept many workers poor and stuck in unfair deals, and it helped landowners keep control over farming in the South.

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How did President Lincoln help end slavery for good?

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He supported the 13th Amendment

Answer explanation

Explanation:

President Abraham Lincoln wanted to make sure that slavery was gone forever, not just ended during the Civil War. To do that, he strongly supported the 13th Amendment, which made slavery illegal in the whole country. He worked hard to get enough people in Congress to vote for it. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation freed some slaves during the war, the 13th Amendment made it official and permanent. Lincoln knew this was the only way to truly end slavery for good.

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How did African American men voting affect Southern politics?

Back

They helped elect more Republicans

Answer explanation

Explanation:

After the 15th Amendment gave African American men the right to vote, many of them started voting in elections for the first time. At the time, the Republican Party was the one that had fought to end slavery and supported rights for freedmen. So, when African American men began voting, they mostly supported Republican candidates. This helped Republicans win more elections in the South, which led to new laws that tried to protect the rights of formerly enslaved people during Reconstruction.

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Which is the BEST reason why the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments still matter today?

Back

They gave rights to all people, no matter their race

Answer explanation

Explanation:

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were made after the Civil War to make the U.S. a fairer place. They ended slavery, made everyone born here a citizen, and gave African American men the right to vote. These amendments still matter today because they help protect everyone's rights, no matter what race they are. They remind us that all people should be treated equally under the law—and they’re still used today when people go to court to fight unfair treatment.