Civil War, Reconstruction, and Voting Rights

Lead up to the Civil War – Northern and Southern states split over the issue of slavery – Tensions increased over whether or not new states would allow slavery – Abraham Lincoln elected president in 1860 – In response to Lincoln’s election, Southern states seceded from the Union The federal government said that was not allowed and war breaks out in 1861 Question: Should individual states have the right to leave the US for any reason?

The War – Prior to the war the South was mostly agricultural while the North was more heavily industrialized The North was able to produce better equipment in larger quantities more quickly than the South – Lincoln issues The Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 This declared that all slaves in the Confederacy were free – The war ends with a Northern victory in 1865 Question: Why do you think that The Emancipation Proclamation was issued?

Aftermath and Reconstruction – Amendments were made to the Constitution after the Civil War Slavery was outlawed Former slaves were granted citizenship The right to vote was promised to all citizens regardless of race – The Federal government took control of the South The government reorganized the politics and society of Southern states The new constitutional amendments were enforced, allowing African Americans to vote and hold elected office throughout the South Question: What do you think happened after the policies of Reconstruction came to an end?

Consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction – Identify and explain a pattern in the graphs on the left

Primary Source: The Post- Reconstruction South You will be examining a primary source that chronicles the life of an African American born during the Civil War Keep in mind the following question as you complete this activity: – What was the difference between the life of a slave before the Civil War and a free African American in the South after reconstruction?

Primary Source: The Post- Reconstruction South Step 1: Read the primary source and underline or highlight key words or phrases that might help you answer the guiding question

Primary Source: The Post- Reconstruction South Step 1: Read the primary source and underline or highlight key words or phrases that might help you answer the guiding question Step 2: With a partner, write a summary of the entire source that answers the guiding question and is between 50 and 60 words

Voting Restrictions Following the end of Reconstruction, the following policies were used in the South: – Literacy Tests Some states passed laws that you had to be able to read and write in order to vote and required officials at polls to give literacy tests – Poll Taxes An annual tax that you had to pay in order to vote – Grandfather Clause Said that even if somebody could not pass the literacy test or pay the poll tax, they could vote if their father or grandfather had been allowed to vote

Voting Restrictions Following the end of Reconstruction, the following policies were used in the South: – Literacy Tests Some states passed laws that you had to be able to read and write in order to vote and required officials at polls to give literacy tests – Poll Taxes An annual tax that you had to pay in order to vote – Grandfather Clause Said that even if somebody could not pass the literacy test or pay the poll tax, they could vote if their father or grandfather had been allowed to vote Working with a partner, figure out how these policies could be used to discriminate against African Americans