APUSH Unit 6

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

"Separate but equal",1886 - Plessy was a man (1/8 black, 7/8 white) who had been instructed by the NAACP to refuse to ride in the train car reserved for blacks. With his light complexion, he lived his life as a white, only announcing his black blood once abroad the train. The conductor had him arrested when he refused to move to the car reserved for blacks. The NAACP hoped to force a court decision on segregation. However, the Supreme Court ruled against Plessy and the NAACP, saying that segregated facilities for whites and blacks were legal as long as the facilities were of equal quality. Established "Separate, but Equal" and allowed for Jim Crow laws. Overturned with Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.

Lincoln's Assassination (April 15, 1865)

On April 15, 1865, Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., as the American Civil War was drawing to a close, just six days after the surrender of General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant and Union forces. The assassination was planned and carried out by John Wilkes Booth as part of a larger conspiracy in an effort to rally the remaining Confederate troops to continue fighting. Andrew Johnson became president.

Freedmen's Bureau (1865-72)

Organization created at end of Civil War that aided southerns (mainly former slaves) with education, finding food, shelter and employment. Helped to transition formers slaves to life as free men. Taught over 200,000 blacks to read. It was intended to last for a year after the end of the war, but lasted until 1872. Johnson vetoed a a Congressional bill for the expansion of the Freedmen's Bureau.

Jim Crow Laws

Southern laws which promoted segregation. These laws restricted the rights of African Americans to use certain schools and public facilities, usually the good ones; to vote; find decent employment and associate with anyone of their own choosing. These laws did not make life "separate but equal," but only served to exclude African Americans. In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the US Supreme Court ruled that Jim Crow laws were unconstitutional.

Anaconda Plan 1861

Strategy for the Union army by General Winfield Scott which involved choking off the main resources of the Confederate army (strangling it like an anaconda) Had 3 main goals: gain control of the Mississippi River (this would cut the Confederacy into 2 parts), blockade the Southern ports, and to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond

Lincoln Limits Wartime Liberties (1861-65)

Suspended Habeas Corpus--the protection against being held without due process or a trial (the most controversial and done without Congress's approval at first because Congress was not in session), shut down some news papers, instituted martial law, blockaded the South, had pro-secessionist lawmakers in Maryland arrested

Johnson's Swing 'Round the Circle

Swing Around the Circle refers to a disastrous speaking campaign by U.S. President Andrew Johnson August 27 - September 15, 1866, in which he tried to gain support for his mild Reconstruction policies and for his preferred candidates (mostly Democrats) in the midterm Congressional election. The tour received its nickname due to the route that the campaign took: "Washington, D.C., to New York, west to Chicago, south to St. Louis, and east through the Ohio River valley back to the nation's capital". Cartoon: Titled "Andy's Trip West." Shows how Johnson's power and influence dissolved as he went on his "Swing 'Round the Circle."

Vicksburg 1863

Two and half month siege of a Confederate fort on the Mississippi River in Tennessee. Vicksburg finally fell to Ulysses S. Grant in July of 1863, giving the Union Army control of the Mississippi River and splitting the South in two.

Paying for the War Union and Confederacy (1861-65)

Union passed an income tax, the first in the nation's history, and added other taxes to fund the war. The South taxed certain products. Both sides sold war bonds.

Gettysburg 1863

A large battle that turned the tide to the North's favor. Fought in Pennsylvania from July 1 to July 3, 1863. The battle is named after the town on the battlefield. Union General George G. Meade led an army of about 90,000 men to victory against General Robert E. Lee's Confederate army of about 75,000. Confederate General Picket led a charge across open fields to attack the Union soilders on Cemetery Hill (the high ground); cost the South thousands of lives. Gettysburg is the war's most famous battle because of its large size, high cost in lives, location in a northern state, and for President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

Advantages/Disadvantages Confederacy

1. Advantages: "Home court advantage"--fighting on land that they knew and only had to defend that land, not attack Northern lands. Conviction of cause (fighting to maintain their way of life) Military leadership (Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson) 2. Disadvantages: Decentralized government, No standing army or navy because it was a "new" country, small population, Lack of ready capital, Lack of food, Small Navy with a lot of coastline to defend

Advantages/Disadvantages Union

1. Advantages: Large population (22 million versus 9 million, with 3.5 million of those black) Industry (almost all of it) Resources (food, canals, RR, ships, etc.), Large Navy, Capital investment (have cash, can pay), Centralized gov't. 2. Disadvantages: Political division of Democratic Party, Lack of consistent popular support, Hostility toward the draft

Wade-Davis Bill (1864)

1864 Congressional plan for Reconstruction that denied the right to vote or hold office for anyone who had fought for the Confederacy...Passed by Congress, but Lincoln refused to sign this bill (pocket veto) thinking it was too harsh. Critics said Lincoln was acting like a dictator and reconstruction should be the domain of the legislative branch, not the executive branch.

Carpetbagger (1865-1877)

Northerner who moved to the southern United States after the Civil War, especially one seeking political or commercial advantage

Exodusters (1878-80)

African Americans who moved from post reconstruction South to the Midwest, mainly Kansas, after the fall of Republican governments in the early 1870's. About 25,000 came to Kansas in 1879-80 combined. Whites closed river boating to blacks at one point, which Hayes prevented with military action. The ban on river boats and other hardships out West eventually slowed the migration of blacks to the the West.

Bull Run 1861

Also known as Manassas. 1st real battle, Confederate victory, Washingtonian spectators gather to watch battle, Gen. Jackson stands as Stonewall and turns tide of battle in favor of Confederates, realization that war is not going to be quick and easy for either side

Reconstruction Act 1867

Congressional act vetoed by Johnson, but overridden by Congress. Put South under military rule and divided the South into 5 military districts, had the South set up new constitutions, said all males (black or white) could vote, said those who supported the Confederacy couldn't vote, made South states give equal rights to all citizens, made the South ratify the 14th Amendment.

Civil Right Bill of 1866

Congressional attempt to guarantee black rights in the south, passed over Johnson's veto. Made all people born in the U.S., regardless of former condition of slavery, citizens (with the exception of Indians). Gave same legal rights of suing, providing testimony, owning/leasing/selling/inheriting property to blacks. Many Southerners tried to circumvent or weaken the act with various degrees of success.

Fourteenth Amendment (1868)

Constitutional amendment adopted after the Civil War that states, "no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Gave full rights of citizens to all people born in the U.S. (former slaves). Excluded Indians.

Compromise of 1877

Determined the winner of the disputed presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican) and Samuel Tilden (Democrat). A very close race (Tilden had won the popular vote) and hotly contested. In exchange for Hayes' victory, Republicans promised to remove troops from the South, appoint a Democrat to the Cabinet, provide federal money for railroad construction and levees on Mississippi River, and agreed to protect the rights of African Americans.

Antietam 1862

First battle of the Civil War fought on Northern land. Even though he had Lee's battle plans, McClellan hesitated to attack in this Maryland battle, leading to an unconvincing Union victory. The win was important, however, as it stopped the Confederate invasion of the North and gave Lincoln the victory he was waiting for to act on slavery, and he announced his Emancipation Proclamation.

The Impeachment of Johnson (1868)

Impeachment--bringing charges against, not necessarily removing from office. Johnson tried to remove Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War, Radical Republicans proclaimed that Johnson had flouted the United States Constitution by directly violating the Tenure of Office Act and began impeachment proceedings against him, The House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson in early 1868 (first president of the United States to be impeached), two-thirds of the Senate had to vote to convict the president for him to be removed but failed to convict Johnson by one vote, when the Radical Republicans tried Andrew Johnson for impeachment because he wanted to fire Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War. The Radical Republicans passed a law called the Tenure of Office Act saying that a President cannot fire a worker "just because". President Johnson stayed in office by one vote.

Election of 1864

In 1864, a number of Republicans sought to prevent Lincoln's renomination and a number of Republican factions put up candidates. . In order to balance Abraham Lincoln's Union ticket with a Southern Democrat, the Republicans nominated Andrew Jackson for vice president. Lincoln was able to overcome Peace Democratic candidate George McClellan and win a second term in office. Andrew Johnson was Lincoln's running mate, the only Senator from a succeeding Southern state (Tennessee) that remained loyal to the Union.

Emancipation Proclamation 1863

Lincoln issued it and freed all the slaves in the Confederate states, but slaves in Border States loyal to the Union remained enslaved. It only applied to states in rebellion (Confederate states). It led to slaves rebelling and joining the Union army and increased sympathy from Europe.

Border States

Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri; these slave states stayed in the Union and were crucial to Lincoln's political and military strategy. He feared alienating them with emancipation of slaves and adding them to the Confederate cause.

Scalawag (1865-1877)

Native white Southerner who collaborated with the occupying forces during Reconstruction, often for personal gain.

Sherman's March to the Sea

Savannah Campaign conducted in late 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The campaign began with Sherman's troops leaving the captured city of Atlanta, Georgia, and ended with the capture of the port of Savannah. Sherman therefore applied the principles of scorched earth, ordering his troops to burn crops, kill livestock, consume supplies, and destroy civilian infrastructure along their path. Grant's armies in Virginia were stalemated against Robert E. Lee's army, in Petersburg, Virginia. By moving in Lee's rear, performing a massive turning movement against him, Sherman planned to increase pressure on Lee.

Civil Rights Act of 1875

Proposed by Charles Sumner, it was designed to desegregate schools, transportation facilities, juries, and public accommodations. But in 1883, in the Civil Rights Cases, the Supreme Court invalidated the law; the Fourteenth Amendment did not prohibit discrimination by individuals, only that perpetrated by the state, the Court said.

Union League (1870)

Reconstruction-Era African American organization that worked to educate Southern blacks about civic life, built black schools and churches, and represented African American interests before government and employers. It also campaigned on behalf of Republican candidates and recruited local militias to protect blacks from white intimidation. Cartoon: 1867 Harpers Weekly cartoon by Thomas Nast, ridiculing both freedmen voting (often for people who "courted them), and resentful, disenfranchised former Confederates.

Black Codes (1865-68)

Set of Southern laws in the wake of the Civil War designed to limited liberties of African-Americans. Restricted the rights and movements of newly freed African Americans; 1) prohibited blacks from either renting land or borrowing money to buy land; 2) placed freemen into a form of semi bondage by forcing them, as "vagrants" and "apprentices" to sign work contracts 3) prohibited blacks from testifying against whites in court.

Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction Plan (1865-66)

Similar to Lincoln's plan. Offered "amnesty and pardon" to any Southerner who would swear allegiance to the Union and the Constitution, ex-Confederate leaders should not be eligible for amnesty (like in Lincoln's plan) as well as individuals (almost always plantation owners) whose property was worth over $20,000. This essentially took the white elites out of new Southern governments (Johnson sympathized with poor whites). Johnson did, however, personally pardon many of the Southern elites and allowed them to take part in government. State needed to abolish slavery before being readmitted, to repeal secession ordinances, to ratify 13th amendment (abolition of slavery). The plan did not pay any Confederate debts from the war. Congress fought Johnson's plan as being too liberal and lenient. Johnson did not make provisions for former slaves in his plan and later vetoed a bill to increase the Freedmen's Bureau.

Fort Sumter (1861)

Site of the opening engagement of the Civil War. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina had seceded from the Union, and had demanded that all federal property in the state be surrendered to state authorities. Major Robert Anderson concentrated his units at Fort Sumter, and, when Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861, Sumter was one of only two forts in the South still under Union control. Learning that Lincoln planned to send supplies to reinforce the fort, on April 11, 1861, Confederate General Beauregard demanded Anderson's surrender, which was refused. On April 12, 1861, the Confederate Army began bombarding the fort, which surrendered on April 14, 1861. Congress declared war on the Confederacy the next day.

Morrill Tariff Act 1861

This was an act passed by Congress in 1861 to meet the cost of the war. It raised the taxes on shipping from 5 to 10 percent however later needed to increase to meet the demanding cost of the war. This was just one the new taxes being passed to meet the demanding costs of the war. Although they were still low to today's standers they still raked in millions of dollars.

"King Wheat" and "King Corn" (1861-65)

The South was convinced they would receive foreign aid because of the economic importance of "King Cotton" to other countries, but the agricultural exports of the North (wheat and corn) were more important.

Fifteenth Amendment

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.

Force Acts (1870-71)

These acts were passed in 1870 and 1871. They were created to put a stop to the torture and harassment of blacks by whites, especially by hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. These acts gave power to the government to use its forces to physically end the problems.

Thirteenth Amendment (1865)

This Amendment was made to forbid slavery, making slavery and involuntary servitude both illegal. It could only be used as a punishment for crime. This Amendment was ratified in 1865, after the war was over. The South had to ratify it to be readmitted to the Union. First of the Reconstruction Amendments.

Ten Percent Reconstruction Plan (1865-66)

When 10% of southern state's voters agreed to pledge loyalty to the Union and support for the emancipation, that state would be welcomed back into the Union. Licncoln wanted to treat the Southern states as if they had never left the Union, but many in Congress wanted the Confederacy treated as conquered provinces. Lincoln's ten percent plan was lenient, and many in Congress wanted more strident requirements for readmission and passed the Wade-Davis Bill which Lincoln pocket vetoed.

The Alabama

a Confederate commerce-raider built by the British and sneakily put into Confederate hands without breaking any neutrality because it wasn't armed until it left the English port. Caused major distress for Yankee merchantmen as sixty Northern ships were captured or destroyed by the Alabama. It never entered a Southern port because of the Union blockade.