AFRICAN AMERICANS 1865-
1992
In 1865, what position were AAs in?
Dread Scott case – showed the difference between the north and south
attitudes towards freed slaves
Emancipation proclamation 1862 – slaves freed / passed by Abraham
Lincoln
13th Amendment passed 1865 – abolition of slavery / passed by
Abraham Lincoln
American Civil War 1861-65
A war between the North and south of America because the south
wanted independence
North wanted to abolish slavery / South didn’t
The confederacy (south) – led by Jefferson Davis
The Union (north) – led by Abraham Lincoln
Consisted of intense combat that left 620,000 to 750,000 soldiers dead
Result: Union victory
o Slavery abolished
o Territorial integrity preserved
o Destruction and dissolution of the confederate states
o Beginning of the reconstruction era
How far did Americans acquire civil rights in the period of
Reconstruction?
The Black Codes – intended to limit or avoid the extension of voting
rights to freed slaves
o Varied from state to state but fundamentally gave AA the right to:
own property / sue in court / attend school / enter a legal
marriage
, o But could not: vote / serve on a jury / give evidence against a
white person / marry a white person / carry arms
‘Congressional Reconstruction’
Freedman’s Bureau 1865
o Set up by congress to support freed slaves since emancipation
brought destitution to many
o 1866 – it was extended to Supplementary Freeman’s Bureau Act /
President Johnson unsuccessfully tried to veto its extension
Civil Rights Act of 1866 - declared all persons born in the United States
to be citizens, "without distinction of race or colour, or previous
condition of slavery or involuntary servitude."
Civil Rights Act of 1875 – aimed to prohibit segregation in public places
except schools
o Congress didn’t want to battle further
o In 1883, the SC dismissed it on the basis that it challenged the
rights of individual states to decide on issues of segregation
14th amendment 1866
o Made to help secure the 1866 act and attacked the black codes
o Claimed that all persons born or naturalised in USA were citizens
and were all entitled to the protection of the law
o Voting rights for male AAs
o Was constantly vetoed by Johnson
th
15 amendment 1870
o Ensured that all AA men gained the vote irrespective to where
they lived
o It was intended to secure the vote for the Republican party
REACTION IN THE SOUTH PRESEDENTIAL RECONSTRUCTION REACTION IN THE NORTH
- Introduced the black codes - Johnson appointed advisors - Showed their disgust at
- Heavier penalties for AAs who were known to be the actions of the south
who broke the law unsympathetic to AAs by refusing to allow
- Showed little remorse southern delegates to
- AAs banned from competing take their seats
for jobs with whites - Tried to dismantle the
black codes
The Compromise of 1877 effectively ended the Reconstruction era. Southern Democrats’
promises to protect the civil and political rights of Black people were not kept, and the end
1992
In 1865, what position were AAs in?
Dread Scott case – showed the difference between the north and south
attitudes towards freed slaves
Emancipation proclamation 1862 – slaves freed / passed by Abraham
Lincoln
13th Amendment passed 1865 – abolition of slavery / passed by
Abraham Lincoln
American Civil War 1861-65
A war between the North and south of America because the south
wanted independence
North wanted to abolish slavery / South didn’t
The confederacy (south) – led by Jefferson Davis
The Union (north) – led by Abraham Lincoln
Consisted of intense combat that left 620,000 to 750,000 soldiers dead
Result: Union victory
o Slavery abolished
o Territorial integrity preserved
o Destruction and dissolution of the confederate states
o Beginning of the reconstruction era
How far did Americans acquire civil rights in the period of
Reconstruction?
The Black Codes – intended to limit or avoid the extension of voting
rights to freed slaves
o Varied from state to state but fundamentally gave AA the right to:
own property / sue in court / attend school / enter a legal
marriage
, o But could not: vote / serve on a jury / give evidence against a
white person / marry a white person / carry arms
‘Congressional Reconstruction’
Freedman’s Bureau 1865
o Set up by congress to support freed slaves since emancipation
brought destitution to many
o 1866 – it was extended to Supplementary Freeman’s Bureau Act /
President Johnson unsuccessfully tried to veto its extension
Civil Rights Act of 1866 - declared all persons born in the United States
to be citizens, "without distinction of race or colour, or previous
condition of slavery or involuntary servitude."
Civil Rights Act of 1875 – aimed to prohibit segregation in public places
except schools
o Congress didn’t want to battle further
o In 1883, the SC dismissed it on the basis that it challenged the
rights of individual states to decide on issues of segregation
14th amendment 1866
o Made to help secure the 1866 act and attacked the black codes
o Claimed that all persons born or naturalised in USA were citizens
and were all entitled to the protection of the law
o Voting rights for male AAs
o Was constantly vetoed by Johnson
th
15 amendment 1870
o Ensured that all AA men gained the vote irrespective to where
they lived
o It was intended to secure the vote for the Republican party
REACTION IN THE SOUTH PRESEDENTIAL RECONSTRUCTION REACTION IN THE NORTH
- Introduced the black codes - Johnson appointed advisors - Showed their disgust at
- Heavier penalties for AAs who were known to be the actions of the south
who broke the law unsympathetic to AAs by refusing to allow
- Showed little remorse southern delegates to
- AAs banned from competing take their seats
for jobs with whites - Tried to dismantle the
black codes
The Compromise of 1877 effectively ended the Reconstruction era. Southern Democrats’
promises to protect the civil and political rights of Black people were not kept, and the end
