The Era Of Reconstruction: Quiz! Trivia

1.

The purpose of the Freedman's Bureau was to help:

A.

Former slaves
B.

All free people in the South
C.

All poor people in the South
D.

Plantation owners

Correct Answer
A. Former slaves

Explanation
The purpose of the Freedman's Bureau was to assist former slaves. This government agency was established after the American Civil War with the aim of providing support and resources to newly freed African Americans. It helped them in various ways, such as providing education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. The Freedman's Bureau played a crucial role in the transition from slavery to freedom for many African Americans in the South.

Rate this question:

2.

Sharecroppers paid their landowners by:

A.

Paying a monthly rental or lease fee
B.

Allowing landowners to use their equipment
C.

Providing labor and a large percentage of the crops
D.

Agreeing to work without pay for five to seven years

Correct Answer
C. Providing labor and a large percentage of the crops

Explanation
Sharecroppers paid their landowners by providing labor and a large percentage of the crops. This means that they would work on the land and cultivate the crops, and in return, they would give a significant portion of the harvested crops to the landowners. This system allowed the landowners to profit from the labor and resources of the sharecroppers, while the sharecroppers themselves would receive a portion of the crops for their own sustenance. It was a way for landowners to maintain control over the land and ensure a steady supply of agricultural products, while sharecroppers had a means of survival and a potential opportunity to eventually own their own land.

Rate this question:

3.

How were tenant farmers different than sharecroppers?

A.

Tenant farmers owned all of their equipment
B.

Tenant farmers usually made a small profit
C.

Tenant farmers bought their seeds from the landowner
D.

Tenant farmers usually did not pay for rent

Correct Answer
B. Tenant farmers usually made a small profit

Explanation
Tenant farmers were different from sharecroppers because they usually made a small profit. Unlike sharecroppers who typically worked on someone else's land in exchange for a share of the crops, tenant farmers had more control over their farming operations. They owned their own equipment and often purchased their own seeds. Additionally, tenant farmers usually paid rent for the land they worked on, but despite this expense, they were able to generate a small profit from their farming activities.

Rate this question:

4.

Why was President Lincoln's Reconstruction plan not enacted?

A.

The plan was too easy on the south
B.

The plan did not pass a majority vote
C.

The plan did not have support of the states
D.

Lincoln was assassinated before the plan could become effective

Correct Answer
D. Lincoln was assassinated before the plan could become effective

Explanation
President Lincoln's Reconstruction plan was not enacted because he was assassinated before the plan could become effective.

Rate this question:

5.

What did the 13th Amendment do for all slaves?

A.

Freed the slaves
B.

Changed who owned land
C.

Gave them the right to vote
D.

Made them citizens of the U.S.

Correct Answer
A. Freed the slaves

Explanation
The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, effectively freeing all slaves. This amendment was a significant milestone in American history as it granted freedom to millions of enslaved individuals.

Rate this question:

6.

What did the 14th Amendment to the Constitution do?

A.

Gave blacks citizenship
B.

Gave blacks freedom
C.

Gave blacks the right to vote
D.

Gave blacks the right to own property

Correct Answer
A. Gave blacks citizenship

Explanation
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution granted citizenship to blacks. This amendment was passed in 1868 and aimed to ensure equal protection under the law for all citizens, regardless of race. It overturned the Dred Scott decision, which had previously denied citizenship to African Americans. The 14th Amendment was a significant step towards civil rights and equality for black Americans.

Rate this question:

7.

Henry McNeal Turner was expelled from his seat in the Georgia state legislature on the grounds that he did not:

A.

Win the election fairly and honestly
B.

Have the knowledge to be a legislator
C.

Have the right to hold political office
D.

Live in the district from which he was elected

Correct Answer
C. Have the right to hold political office

Explanation
Henry McNeal Turner was expelled from his seat in the Georgia state legislature because he did not have the right to hold political office. This suggests that there was a legal or constitutional requirement that he did not meet in order to hold the position. The other options, such as winning the election fairly and honestly, having the knowledge to be a legislator, or living in the district from which he was elected, do not directly address the reason for his expulsion.

Rate this question:

8.

The main goal of the Ku Klux Klan was to:

A.

Return land to former Confederates
B.

Attract members from all social classes
C.

Force the carpetbaggers to move back north
D.

Prevent freedmen from exercising their rights

Correct Answer
D. Prevent freedmen from exercising their rights

Explanation
The main goal of the Ku Klux Klan was to prevent freedmen from exercising their rights. The Klan aimed to intimidate and oppress African Americans in order to maintain white supremacy and deny freedmen their newly gained civil rights and freedoms. They used violence, terrorism, and intimidation tactics to suppress and control the black population, including preventing them from voting, owning land, or participating in politics. The Klan's actions were aimed at maintaining white dominance and enforcing racial discrimination in the post-Civil War era.

Rate this question:

9.

What did the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution do?

A.

Gave blacks citizenship
B.

Gave blacks the right to vote
C.

Gave blacks their freedom
D.

Gave blacks the right to own property

Correct Answer
B. Gave blacks the right to vote

Explanation
The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted African American men the right to vote. This amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It was a significant step towards ensuring equal political participation for African Americans, although it did not guarantee protection against other forms of voter suppression such as literacy tests and poll taxes.

Rate this question:

10.

Which statement accurately describes the difference between Lincoln's and Radical Republicans' plan for reconstruction?

A.

Lincoln's plan consisted of many complicated steps, the Radicals plan was much simpler
B.

Lincoln's plan sought to punish the south for the Civil War, the Radicals plan was aimed at rehabilitation
C.

Lincoln's plan called for the quick return of Southern states to the Union, the Radicals plan sought to delay their return
D.

Lincoln's plan called for the abolition of slavery through the south, the Radicals plan would have allowed slavery to continue

Correct Answer
C. Lincoln's plan called for the quick return of Southern states to the Union, the Radicals plan sought to delay their return

Explanation
Lincoln's plan aimed for a swift reintegration of the Southern states into the Union, while the Radicals' plan sought to delay their return. This suggests that Lincoln's approach was focused on reconciliation and healing the nation after the Civil War, while the Radicals' plan was more cautious and aimed at ensuring that the South underwent significant changes before being readmitted.

Rate this question: