1. Reconstruction in Texas; 1865-1870

2. Definitions
Reconstruction (U.S.)- Bringing the South back into the Union.
Amendment- a change made to a law.
Land Grants- Land given by the government to reward certain people.
Freedmen’s Bureau- Government agency that provided jobs and opportunities to former slaves.
Black Codes (Jim Crow Laws)- Laws meant to prevent freed slaves from obtaining their Civil Rights.

3. Reconstruction Era
Abraham Lincoln vowed to welcome the South back into the union, but he was assassinated in 1865.
Reconstruction required three new amendments being added to the Constitution of the United States.

4. Economically Many railroads were built across the state.
Land Grants were used to pay for the Railroads.
Cattle Ranching became a huge business, where Cowboys, would round up cattle and take it up North.
Farming was also a steady income for Texans.

5. Politically
President Johnson welcomed the South back into the union with stipulations.
Johnson stated that *White Males had to pledge allegiance to the U.S. in order to vote.
Johnson initiated the Reconstruction Amendments.
*Only White Males who owned property could Vote in Elections.

6. Reconstruction Amendments
Every Southern state had to write a new Constitution:
13th Amendment- outlawed slavery throughout the U.S. (1865)
14th Amendment- All people born on American soil shall be citizens. (1868)
15th Amendment- all Men* should be allowed to vote. (1870)
Texas is readmitted into the union March 30, 1870.
* The South used made-up laws (Jim Crow) to prevent Minorities from Voting even though it was their Constitutional Right.

7. Socially
Using the Freedmen’s Bureau some former slaves banned together to form little towns. (Third, Fourth and Fifth Wards in Houston)
Black Codes, Literacy Test and Grandfather clauses were enacted to prevent blacks from obtaining rights.
In 1868, located near Houston and Dallas, the Ku Klux Klan used intimidation tactics and even murder to make sure Blacks were not given any rights.

8. Ending Reconstruction
Reconstruction will end in the U.S. in 1871, The U.S. Flag is the 6th and last flag to fly over Texas.