Assessment Date: _______________
Study Guide for VS 8 a-c: Virginia Reconstruction following the Civil War
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Poll Tax: A fee required to vote. This made it extremely difficult for African Americans and
American Indians to vote, run for office or become elected.
Voting tests: Nearly impossible to pass tests that were given to African Americans and
American Indians at voting booths. The tests were impossible to answer correctly which
gave voting officials the right to deny African Americans and American Indians to vote.
Discrimination: Unfair treatment of one person or a group of people.
Segregation: The act of separating people by their race. This required African Americans to
attend separate schools, drink from separate water fountains, and often lived in
separate neighborhoods.
Jim Crow Laws: Also known as ‘Black codes’. Southern states developed a system of laws
designed to discriminate against African Americans. This set of laws undid some of the
progress in the South. These laws separated races and reinforced old prejudices. These
laws also impacted American Indians.
Reconstruction: The period of history following the Civil War. After the Union won The Civil War,
slavery became illegal and enslaved African Americans were freed. These were the
years after the war, in which the U.S. Congress passed laws to rebuild the country and
reunite the northern and southern states.
Conditions that prevented African Americans from voting: Poll taxes and Literacy Tests
African American Men: During Reconstruction some of these individuals were beginning to be
elected into power in Virginia’s government. However, segregation made it very
difficult for African Americans to vote or hold public office.
The Effects of Railroads on Virginia: Helped small towns grow into larger cities, brought new
industries and economic growth to Virginia and made communication and
transportation easier. Roanoke became a busy railroad center in the late 19th century.
Railroads caused the expansion of businesses, agriculture and industry in Virginia.
Virginia’s land and plantations lost their value because the system of farming, which was
based on slavery, was destroyed.
Freedmen’s Bureau: This was the United States government’s attempt to help resolve problems
and bring the southern states back into the union. This organization was designed to
help rebuild the country. This government agency helped freed slaves and others.
Provided schools, food, clothing and medical care for freed African American slaves
and others in Virginia.
Coal Mining Industry in Virginia: Coal was discovered in Tazewell County and coal mining
became a source of livelihood (jobs) for residents in Southwestern Virginia.
Virginia Cities: Grew with people, businesses and factories. The need for better roads
increased.
Sharecropping: This was an agricultural system that was common in Virginia after the war.
Freedmen and poor white farmers rented land from a landowner by promising to pay
the owner with a share of the crop grown.
Economic Ruin in Virginia after the Civil War:
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Millions of freed African Americans needed housing, education, clothing, food
and jobs.
Confederate money has no value.
Banks were closed.
Railroads, bridges, plantations and crops were destroyed.
Transportation routes for goods and services to get to market were destroyed
Changes in Virginia that helped to boost economic growth:
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Railroads because they were a key to expansion of business, agriculture and
industry.
Coal deposit discovery created jobs and business.
Tobacco farming and tobacco products became important for Virginia
industries. This industry made a comeback.