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Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court ruled in Dred Scott v. Sandford that African Americans were not U.S. citizens and had no rights under the Constitution. This decision heightened sectional tensions and highlighted the deep divisions regarding slavery.(Foner, 15) -
Emancipation Proclamation
Issued by President Abraham Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation declared freedom for slaves in Confederate states, redefining the Union’s war aims and laying groundwork for Reconstruction policies concerning freedmen.(Guelzo, 27) -
Freedmen’s Bureau Established
Congress created the Freedmen’s Bureau to aid freedmen and poor whites in the South, providing food, housing, education, and legal assistance. This agency was pivotal in the transition from slavery to freedom. -
Lincoln’s Assassination
President Lincoln’s assassination left the direction of Reconstruction to his successor, Andrew Johnson, whose lenient policies created significant challenges for enforcing civil rights. -
Thirteenth Amendment Ratified
The amendment abolished slavery throughout the United States, marking a critical turning point in Reconstruction and establishing a foundation for civil rights advancements.(Foner, 58) -
Civil Rights Act Passed
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to African Americans, countering Black Codes and setting the stage for the Fourteenth Amendment. -
Reconstruction Acts
These acts divided the South into five military districts and required states to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment and grant voting rights to African American men to rejoin the Union.(Foner, 89) -
Fourteenth Amendment Ratified
This amendment granted citizenship to all individuals born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves, and guaranteed equal protection under the law.(Guelzo, 54) -
Fifteenth Amendment Ratified
The amendment prohibited states from denying voting rights based on race, color, or previous servitude, marking a significant achievement in the Reconstruction era.(Foner, 102) -
United States v. Cruikshank
The Supreme Court’s decision weakened federal enforcement of civil rights by ruling that the Fourteenth Amendment applied only to state actions, not individual actions, undermining Reconstruction’s goals.(Guelzo, 78)