#AP African American Studies: Reconstruction Amendments & Black Political Participation - Night Before Review

Hey! Let's get you prepped and confident for your AP exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource for a quick, focused review of the Reconstruction era. We'll break down the key concepts, make connections, and give you the tools you need to ace this section. Let's do this!

#🚀 Overview: Reconstruction Amendments

The Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) are HUGE. They're the foundation for much of the civil rights progress in the US. They aimed to rebuild the nation after the Civil War and establish rights for African Americans. But remember, the fight for equality didn't end there. This is a high-value topic, so make sure you understand the nuances of each amendment and how they connect.

# 🏛️ Standards of Citizenship

• Reconstruction Period (1865-1877): Federal government steps in to rebuild the South and protect newly freed African Americans.
• Federal Focus: Citizenship, equal rights, and political representation became the focus.
• Goal: Rebuild the nation and ensure rights for formerly enslaved people.

# ⛓️ Abolition of Slavery

• 13th Amendment (1865): Officially abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.

* **Landmark Moment:** Ended the institution of slavery that had defined the nation for centuries. * **Reality Check:** Despite the 13th Amendment, Black Codes and discriminatory laws emerged to limit African American freedoms.

# 👶 Birthright Citizenship

• 14th Amendment (1868): Defined birthright citizenship - if you're born here, you're a citizen.

* **Overturned Dred Scott:** Said African Americans *could* be citizens. * **Equal Protection:** All citizens are granted equal protection under the law. * **Jim Crow Era:** Despite the 14th, many states still enforced discriminatory Jim Crow laws.

# 🗳️ Voting Rights for Black Men

• 15th Amendment (1870): Prohibited denying the right to vote based on race.

* **Political Equality:** A major step towards political equality for African Americans. * **Suppression:** Many states used tactics like literacy tests and poll taxes to suppress Black voting. * **Voting Rights Act of 1965:** Full protection of voting rights came nearly a century later.

#✊ Black Political Participation

# 🗳️ Access to Voting

• 15th Amendment Impact: Enabled Black men to participate formally in American politics.
• Southern Politics: Thousands of African Americans, many formerly enslaved, participated in Southern politics.
• Black Representatives: African American voters played a key role in electing Black officials.
• Obstacles: Faced intimidation, violence, and discriminatory laws that hindered full participation.

# 🏛️ African Americans in Office

• 2,000+ Served: Nearly 2,000 African Americans held public office during Reconstruction.
• Notable Figures:
  • Hiram Revels: First African American U.S. Senator (Mississippi).
  • Blanche K. Bruce: Second African American U.S. Senator (Mississippi).
  • Joseph Rainey: First African American member of the U.S. House of Representatives (South Carolina).
• Goals: Promoted civil rights, education, and economic opportunities.
• Jim Crow Era: Many rights gained during Reconstruction were eroded during Jim Crow.
• Civil Rights Movement: African Americans fought to reclaim their rights in the 1960s.

#📜 Required Sources

#The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1865

Section 1

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

• Key Takeaway: Officially abolished slavery, but with an exception for punishment of a crime. This loophole was exploited by Southern states through the convict leasing system, which disproportionately affected African Americans.

#The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1868

Section 1

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 3

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4

The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

• Key Takeaway: Defined birthright citizenship, overturned Dred Scott, and established equal protection under the law. This amendment is the foundation for many civil rights cases.

#The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1870

Section 1

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude–

Section 2

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

• Key Takeaway: Prohibited denying the right to vote based on race. Despite this, many states found ways to restrict Black voting rights.

#Engraved Portrait of Five African American Legislators from Reconstruction Congresses, Early 1880s

• Key Takeaway: This image is a powerful visual representation of the political progress made during Reconstruction. It highlights the fact that African Americans were not just passive recipients of rights, but active participants in shaping their own destiny.

#🎯 Final Exam Focus

• High-Priority Topics: The Reconstruction Amendments, Black political participation, and the limitations of these changes.
• Common Question Types: Multiple-choice questions on the details of each amendment, short-answer questions on the impact of Reconstruction, and free-response questions that ask you to analyze the successes and failures of the era.
• Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. If you get stuck, move on and come back to it later.

* **Common Pitfalls:** Confusing the details of the amendments, overlooking the limitations and challenges of Reconstruction, and not connecting the Reconstruction era to later civil rights movements. * **Strategies:** Read questions carefully, underline key words, and make sure you understand what the question is asking before you start writing. Use the sources provided to support your answers.

#📝 Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution? (A) To grant citizenship to formerly enslaved people (B) To guarantee equal protection under the law (C) To abolish slavery and involuntary servitude (D) To ensure voting rights for Black men

2. The 14th Amendment was intended to overturn which Supreme Court decision? (A) Plessy v. Ferguson (B) Brown v. Board of Education (C) Dred Scott v. Sandford (D) Marbury v. Madison

3. Which of the following was a common method used by Southern states to suppress African American voting rights after the passage of the 15th Amendment? (A) Granting land to white voters (B) Requiring literacy tests and poll taxes (C) Enacting the Civil Rights Act of 1875 (D) Providing free transportation to polling places

Short Answer Question

Briefly explain how the Reconstruction Amendments altered the relationship between the federal government and state governments. Provide one specific example to support your answer.

Free Response Question

Analyze the extent to which the Reconstruction Amendments achieved their intended goals of promoting equality and protecting the rights of African Americans. In your response, be sure to:

• Explain the intended goals of the Reconstruction Amendments.
• Discuss the successes and limitations of these amendments in achieving their goals.
• Provide specific examples to support your analysis.

Scoring Breakdown for FRQ

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, defensible thesis that addresses the extent to which the Reconstruction Amendments achieved their goals.
• Explanation of Goals (2 points): Explanation of the intended goals of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments (e.g., abolition of slavery, citizenship, equal protection, voting rights).
• Discussion of Successes (2 points): Discussion of the successes of the amendments (e.g., legal abolition of slavery, granting citizenship, expanding voting rights).
• Discussion of Limitations (2 points): Discussion of the limitations and challenges of the amendments (e.g., Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, voting restrictions).
• Specific Examples (2 points): Specific examples to support the analysis (e.g., literacy tests, poll taxes, the rise of the KKK, court cases).
• Synthesis (1 point): Synthesis of the evidence and analysis to develop a nuanced understanding of the historical context and the long-term impact of the Reconstruction Amendments.

You've got this! You're well-prepared and ready to rock the exam. Remember to stay calm, read carefully, and trust your knowledge. Good luck! 🌟