Reconstruction Act of 1867

Definition

The Reconstruction Act of 1867 was a law passed by the U.S. Congress that divided the South into five military districts, each under a Union general, in order to protect the rights of freed slaves and ensure fair elections.

Analogy

Think of this like a school being put on probation for breaking rules. The school is divided into sections, each overseen by an appointed monitor who ensures everyone follows the rules and treats each other fairly.

Related terms

Military Reconstruction Acts: These were four statutes passed during the Reconstruction Era that outlined how to reintegrate Southern states back into the Union.

Freedmen's Bureau: An agency established by Congress in 1865 to help former black slaves and poor whites in the South after the Civil War.

Radical Republicans: A faction of American politicians within the Republican Party from around 1854 until 1877 who believed Blacks were entitled to the same political rights and opportunities as whites.