Reconstruction & Post-Reconstruction by Lacey Yang

13th Amendment Ends Slavery (1865)

lyang5617 — 2025-04-30 17:32:48 UTC

Quote: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States.” – 13th Amendment

Why It Matters: This amendment was the first big step toward freedom and equality for African Americans, laying the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement.

Black Codes Passed in the South (1865–1866)

lyang5617 — 2025-04-30 17:35:40 UTC

Quote: Mississippi Black Code: “No negro shall be permitted to rent or keep a house…”

Why It Matters: These laws showed that racism didn’t end with slavery and led to stronger demands for civil rights protections.

Freedmen’s Bureau Created (1865)

lyang5617 — 2025-04-30 17:37:30 UTC

Quote:

“The Freedmen’s Bureau is the only friend the poor freedman has.” — A formerly enslaved person, 1866

Why It Matters: It supported African Americans during a hard time and pushed for education, something civil rights leaders would continue to fight for.

14th Amendment Grants Citizenship (1868)

lyang5617 — 2025-04-30 17:41:54 UTC

Quote: “No state shall… deny to any person… the equal protection of the laws.” – 14th Amendment

Why It Matters: This amendment became a key part of civil rights court cases, helping activists fight against unfair treatment and discrimination.

Hiram Revels Becomes First Black U.S. Senator (1870)

lyang5617 — 2025-04-30 17:45:58 UTC

Quote:

“I maintain that the past record of my race is worth preserving.” — Hiram Revels

Why It Matters: His election showed progress for African Americans in government, though that progress was reversed.

15th Amendment Gives Black Men the Right to Vote (1870)

lyang5617 — 2025-04-30 17:53:19 UTC

Quote: “The right of citizens… shall not be denied… on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

Why It Matters: It was a big win for African American political power, although many still faced voting restrictions later.

Plessy v. Ferguson Legalizes Segregation (1896)

lyang5617 — 2025-05-03 02:59:22 UTC

Quote: “Separate but equal” – Supreme Court ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson

Why It Matters: This case made segregation legal and created challenges that the Civil Rights Movement would fight against decades later.

Ku Klux Klan Acts Passed (1871)

lyang5617 — 2025-05-05 13:33:42 UTC

Quote: “An act to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment.”

Why It Matters: It was one of the first times the federal government stepped in to protect Black Americans from racial terrorism.