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The Freedmen's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau is a federal agency established on March 3, 1865 just before the end of the Civil War, during the Reconstruction Era, it was established to help and protect emancipated slaves (freedmen) during their transition from a life of slavery to a life of freedom. Three ways the organization helped freeman is they relocated and reunited families, helped with negotiating contracts, and provided education. -
President Lincoln is Assassinated
President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Andrew Johnson became president after President Lincoln was assassinated. -
The 13th Amendment is Passed
The Thirteenth Amendment made slavery illegal in the United States. -
Civil Rights Acts of 1866
The Civil Rights Acts of 1866 was to protect ex-slaves (Freedmen) from legislation in the Southern States such as the Black Codes and the Vagrancy Laws. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 also gave further rights to the freed slaves. -
Ku Klux Klan
The goals of the Ku Klux Klan were to oppose the Reconstruction policies of the radical Republican Congress and to maintain "white supremacy." -
Military Reconstruction Acts
Congress passed the Military Reconstruction Acts because they wanted to punish the South and prevent the ruling class to enter power. -
Andrew Johnson’s Impeachment Trial
The House of Representatives impeached President Johnson because of his removal of Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War and member of his cabinet, in violation of the law called the Tenure of Office Act. One vote kept Johnson from being removed from office. The President further infuriated Congress by vetoing an extension to the Freedmen's Bureau. -
Election of Ulysses S. Grant
Many of the people in his administration were crooks who stole from the government which caused his presidency to be marked with scandals. President Grant pushed for the passage of the 15th Amendment, giving the right of all men to vote regardless of race, color, or whether they were former slaves. He also signed a bill that allowed persons of African descent to become U.S. citizens. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment granted citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to African Americans and enslaved people who had been emancipated after the American Civil War -
15th Amendment
The significance of the 15th Amendment is the 15th Amendment protects the voting rights of all citizens regardless of race or the color of their skin. It also protected the voting rights of former slaves. -
Reconstruction Ends
Reconstruction ended when President Rutherford removed the federal troops from the South and the state governments took over.