Civil War Reconstruction

Definition

The period following the American Civil War, from 1865 to 1877, where the federal government attempted to rebuild and reunite the country after the war. It aimed to address issues such as slavery, civil rights, and readmitting Southern states into the Union.

Related terms

Emancipation Proclamation: A presidential proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 that declared all slaves in Confederate territory free.

Thirteenth Amendment: An amendment added to the U.S. Constitution in 1865 that abolished slavery throughout the United States.

Freedmen's Bureau: A federal agency established during Reconstruction that provided assistance to newly freed African Americans with education, employment, and basic necessities.