The Reconstruction Era in the United States was the period of time after the Civil War during which they were ‘reconstructing’ the Southern states. It began at the end of the war in 1865, and ended twelve years later in 1877 with the Compromise of 1877.
After the Civil War, Lincoln’s plan of action was based upon the belief that the states hadn’t actually seceded, and therefore shouldn’t be punished. He thought they ought to pardon Southerners who had participated in the war if they swore allegiance to the United States, and that the states would be reinstated into the Union if 10% of said states population swore allegiance.
The 13th amendment was passed in 1865, abolishing slavery in the States. Lincoln was assassinated at the Ford’s Theater by John Wilkes Booth, and Andrew Johnson succeeded him as President. He began reconstruction with a plan based upon Lincoln’s.
The last slaves in the United States were emancipated on June 19th, 1865, but Mississippi created black codes, which limited the rights of freed blacks, and this became common through-out the Southern states.
In 1866, the 14th amendment was passed, which ensured equal protection to all people, but the majority of Southern States rejected it. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed as well, which granted full citizenship and civil rights to all blacks. The Ku Klux Klan was founded in Tennessee during 1866 as well, and would go on to extend through-out the whole of the South by 1868. The first Transatlantic cable was completed during 66 as well.
In 1867, The Military Reconstruction Act divided the previous Confederacy into five military districts, which were policed by Union generals. The Tenure of Office Act was passed in 67, which made it so that Congress approval was required before the President could remove appointees. Johnson ignored this act, and removed Republican Edwin Stanton from his position as Secretary of War, which very much so irritated Congress, as he had been one of the people the Act had been issued to protect. Also in 67, the US purchased Alaska from Russia in what was named Stewards Folly.
In 1868, Johnson was impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate. The 14th amendment was ratified by the states, Ulysses S. Grant became President, and an eight hour workday became law for federal workers.
In 1869, Wyoming became the first state to grant suffrage to women. In 1870, the 15th amendment was ratified to give black males the right to vote, and the last four states on the Confederate side were readmitted (Texas, Virginia, Mississippi, & Georgia). The first black Senator, Hiram E. Revels, took the seat of Jefferson Davis. The Enforcement Act was passed, allowing for government intervention with the KKK, and a Californian case White vs. Flood got segregation of schools by race started.
In 1871, The Indian Appropriation Act was passed, making all Native Americans wards of the state, the Great Chicago Fire occurred, and England paid 15.5mil in damages from them helping the Confederates during the War.
In 1872, Ulysses S. Grant was reelected as President, Democrats reclaimed control of Southern state governments in a process called Redemption, and the Yellowstone Park was established. In 1873, the Panic of 1873 happened, caused by railroad speculation. In 1874, The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was founded.
In 75, the Whiskey Ring Scandal occurred during Grants term, and many of his associates were prosecuted. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was passed, establishing penalties to those who denied equal rights, the usage of hotels, theaters, stores, etc., to any citizen.
In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden (The former republican, the latter democrat) ran against each other in the Presidential election. Tilden won the popularity vote, but the electoral vote was disputed. An electoral commission intervened and gave Hayes all the votes. The democratic party agreed to this, if all federal troops were removed from the Southern states. They agreed upon these terms, troops were removed from the Southern states in 1877, and Hayes became President. This is called the Compromise of 1877, and is was the end of Reconstruction.
the problems not the problem 