Unit 7: LA’s Civil War & Reconstruction Era

states’ rights belief that states can overrule the federal government’s authority advocated by many Southern slave states unconstitutional example: secession

secession to leave or to withdraw immediate cause of the Civil War 11 southern states left the Union South Carolina was the 1 st to secede. LA was the 6 th to secede. secession violated constitution

border states slave states did not secede remained in the Union included Delaware Kentucky Maryland Missouri West Virginia

conscription to draft into military service involuntary necessary when there aren’t enough volunteer soldiers heavily relied upon by the South

Confederate States of America aka The Confederacy aka The South government formed by the states that seceded from the US president: Jefferson Davis vice president: Alexander Stevens capital: Richmond, Virginia

carpetbagger derogatory nickname northern whites came to South during Reconstruction sought political or monetary gain seen as opportunists by Southerners

scalawag derogatory nickname southern whites sided with Republicans during Reconstruction some were Republicans before the Civil War some were against secession from the beginning others became Republicans after the Whig Party collapsed but not many of LA’s former Whig Creole planters

Knights of the White Camellia secret organization developed in LA during Reconstruction opposed Reconstruction Republican rule freedmen’s participation in government founded by a Confederate veteran from Franklin, LA lasted from members: mostly from LA’s upper class somewhat similar to

Ku Klux Klan secret organization that developed during Reconstruction opposed Reconstruction Republican rule freedmen’s participation in government founded by Nathan Bedford Forrest in 1866 disguised identities when terrorizing black communities used scare tactics to stop freedmen from exercising civil rights members: mostly from the white lower class

sharecropping agricultural system developed after the Civil War cheap form of labor replaced slavery planter provided land workers labored for part of the profit when crops were sold sharecroppers often remained in debt

Confiscation Act Union act issued in 1861 & : enabled Union soldiers to take Confederate property property included slaves: freed when “confiscated” by Union troops 1862: freed slaves of any Confederate owner who didn’t free them within 60 days acts led to Emancipation Proclamation

Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln took effect in 1863 misconceived as freeing ALL slaves only freed slaves in Confederate states still in rebellion against the Union did not apply to Confederate states already under Union control did not apply to border states

Freedmen’s Bureau federal government agency created in 1865 helped former slaves (freedmen) meet such basic needs as food shelter healthcare education also provided same social services to displaced whites

Reconstruction time period after the Civil War federal government restored seceded states to the Union after reorganizing state governments holding Congressional elections establishing new relationship with federal government types: presidential: Lincoln, Johnson military: developed by Congress, enforced by the military

1865 LA Black Codes set of laws passed after the Civil War issued by LA also issued by other Southern state governments restricted social and economic status of freedmen some required they work as domestic servants or in agriculture LA required freedmen to sign 12- month labor contracts yearly or be arrested outlined acceptable conduct of freedmen

1866 Civil Rights Act granted citizenship to all males born in the US citizenship not based on race or status as a former slave vetoed by President Johnson became law when overturned by Congress basis of 14 th amendment, which granted citizenship due process of law equal protection of the laws

Jim Crow laws laws beginning in the 1880s enacted in Southern states oppressed freedmen socially, politically, and economically includes: poll tax: tax paid to vote literacy test: proved ability to read and write in order to vote grandfather clause: allowed people to vote if their grandfathers were registered prior to the Civil War also included segregation

Plessy v. Ferguson 1892 US Supreme Court case Homer Plessy, 7/8 white sat in white-only railroad car in LA refused to move and was arrested case challenged LA’s law requiring separate accommodations for blacks and whites court ruled separate facilities were legal as long as they were equal in quality and number created separate but equal

PGT Beauregard Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard 1 st named Confederate Brigadier General became 5 th most senior general in Confederate ranks from Louisiana commanded Confederate forces in South Carolina ordered the surrender of the Union’s Ft. Sumter attacked Ft. Sumter starting the Civil War

Ulysses S. Grant Union general commander of Union Army accepted Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox became 18 th US president

David Farragut Union officer 1 st person to be named Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, and Admiral in US Navy carried out Anaconda Plan captured New Orleans maintained blockade of the South’s Gulf coast

Benjamin Butler Major General in Union Army administered New Orleans once occupied by the Union issued Order No. 28 stated that LA women who insulted Union troops would be treated as the law treats prostitutes not well-liked by many in New Orleans

Andrew Johnson Abraham Lincoln’s vice president assumed presidency upon Lincoln’s assassination 17 th US president political party: Democrat Congress pushed for his impeachment. felt his Reconstruction plans were not beneficial to freedmen impeached by the House of Representatives but process failed in the Senate

PBS Pinchback 1 st non-white governor of a US state 1 st person of African descent to govern a US state LA’s 24 th governor political party: Republican served for 35 days interim governor while Governor Henry Clay Warmoth faced impeachment charges