Reconstruction legislation

Definition

Reconstruction legislation refers to the series of laws and policies enacted by the U.S. government after the Civil War with the aim of rebuilding and integrating the Southern states back into the Union, as well as securing civil rights for newly freed slaves.

Related terms

Black Codes: These were laws passed by Southern states during Reconstruction that aimed to restrict the rights and freedoms of African Americans, such as limiting their ability to own property or move freely.

Freedmen's Bureau: The Freedmen's Bureau was an agency created by Congress during Reconstruction to provide assistance, education, and support to newly freed slaves and impoverished whites in the South.

Civil Rights Act of 1866: This important piece of legislation granted citizenship rights to all individuals born in the United States, regardless of race. It also aimed to protect African Americans from discriminatory practices.