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The Wade-Davis Bill
The bill passed both houses of Congress, but was pocket-vetoed by Lincoln. The bill never took effect. -
The Freedmen's Bureau Act
The Freedmen's Bureau helped former slaves begin new lives. It also helped African Americans to build and manage schools throughout the South. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The act granted citizenship to all persons born in the United States except Native Americans. It was mainly intended to protect the rights of African Americans, allowing them to own property. -
Howard University
It was first established as a seminary for African American ministers. In 1869, it expanded to include the first law school for African Americans. -
Military Reconstruction Act
The act divided the former Confederacy into five military districts, each headed by a Union general. Each state had to also ratify the Fourteenth Amendment. -
The Fourteenth Amendment
This amendment declared that no states could deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. It also declared that no state could deny any person equal protection of the laws. -
The Grant Administration
Ulysses S. Grant becomes the 18th President of the United States. His lack of effectiveness as president helped to divide the Republican party and to undermines public support for Reconstruction. -
The Fifteenth Amendment
This amendment granted colored men the right to vote. It also allowed many freedmen to take part in governing the South. -
Last Confederate State Readmitted to Union
Georgia becomes the last former Confederate state to be rejoin the Union under the Reconstruction plan. Georgia is also readmitted to Congress on this day. -
Ku Klux Klan Act
This act outlawed the illegal activities of the Klan. It allowed authorities to arrest more than 3,000 Klan members terrorizing the South. -
The Panic of 1873
The powerful banking firm of Jay Cooke and Company declared bankruptcy due to a series of bad railroad investments. This set off a chain reaction of bank failures which slipped the United States into a depression. -
Reconstruction Ends
The midterm elections in the fall of 1874 were an important turning point for the Democratic party. The Republicans lost heavily, signaling the end of Reconstruction because Democrats opposed it. -
The "Whiskey Ring" scandal
A group of government officials and distillers in Missouri cheated the government out of million of dollars by filing false tax reports. It was seen by many as a sign of corruption under the Republican governments. -
The Compromise of 1877
The terms of this agreement insured Hayes would be the winner of the election of 1876 since there was no clear outcome. The Democrats would allow this if the Republicans agreed to the terms of the agreement. -
Spelman College
It was the first college for African American women. It was founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary.
