Reconstruction Era: Almanac
Reconstruction Era Timeline
Research and Activity Ideas
Chapter 1: The Promise of Freedom
Introduction (why Reconstruction is an important era)
Brief overview of slavery in the U.S.
Brief overview of Civil War (up to Emanc. Procl.)
Emancipation Proclamation
Recruitment of black soldiers
Sidebars: Lives of slaves (work, family, homes, clothing, food, punishment, etc.)
Chapter 2: As the War Ends, More Questions than Answers
Impact of the Union advance on black and white southerners
Rehearsals for Reconstruction (Sea Islands, Davis Bend, Mississippi Valley)
Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (Ten Percent Plan)
Freedmen's Bureau is established
Wade-Davis Bill (Lincoln vetoes)
Sherman's Special Order # 15 (40 Acres and a Mule)
Lincoln's death, Johnson sworn in
Sidebars: Schools (Sea Islands)
Laura Towne, Charlotte Forten and other women activists
Chapter 3: The Joys and Uncertainties of Freedom
13th Amendment ends slavery
Devastated south: economic and social chaos
Different regions of the south
Impact of freedom on former slaves: family life, hunger for education, land, etc.
Sidebars: Attempts to reunite families
Chapter 4: The President's Plan for Reconstruction
Carl Schurz's report on crisis conditions in south and recommendation that government protect freed people; Johnson ignores
President Johnson's plan for reconstruction
Southern states begin reorganization based on president's plan
Johnson pardons former Confederates
Johnson declares Reconstruction complete
Ku Klux Klan (from founding to 20th century)
Chapter 5: The Radicals Respond
Congress refuses to seat representatives from reorganized southern states (12/65)
Civil Rights Bill passed over Johnson's veto
14th Amendment guarantees civil rights
Riots in Memphis and New Orleans
1866 election: Republican landslide
Congressional Reconstruction: 4 acts passed over Johnson's vetoes
Sidebars: African American community in New Orleans
Chapter 6: The Republicans' Version of Reconstruction
Southern states draw up new constitutions
Ku Klux Klan carries on terror campaign
Work/accomplishments of the Freedmen's Bureau
Developments in the North and West
Sidebars: Ulysses S. Grant
Chapter 7: Reconstruction Governments: Achievements and Problems
15th Amendment (voting rights) passes
Blacks participate in political activity, vote in large numbers, hold office
Republican govts in southern states: what they accomplished
Escalating violence leads to Enforcement Acts
Civil Rights Act (equal access to public facilities)
Sidebars: Blanche K. Bruce
Prominent black legislators, etc. - Vignettes
Prominent carpetbaggers and scalawags
Widespread corruption leads to reform movement: Liberalism
Southern white Democrats-"Redeemers"-gain ground
Northern support for Reconstruction dries up
Slaughterhouse Cases, etc. - Supreme Court whittles away guarantees
Election of Hayes and Bargain of 1877 (non-interference and troop withdrawal in exchange for southern support)
Sidebars: Exoduster movement
Prominent Redeemers (Vance, Hampton, Jordan)
Grim Close to the 19th Century
Supreme Court rules Civil Rights Act unconstitutional
Plessy v. Ferguson (separate but equal; until 1954)
Segregation, enforced with violence (from 1880s into 20th century)
