1.) What events and movements pushed the federal government to redefine the position of African Americans in American society between 1857 and 1877? The Events and Movements That Promoted Federal Society The government's attempt to redefine the position of African Americans in American society between 1857 and 1877 began in 1857 with the Dred Scott case. This followed a few years later when President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. This states that “all people held as slaves are, and will henceforth be free.” In 1863, President Lincoln announced the 10% Plan. In March 1865, Congress created the Freedmen's Bureau. On April 4, 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated, making Andrew Johnson president, where the following month, May 1865, the new President Johnson announced his reconstruction plan. Shortly thereafter, in November 1865, there were new “Black Codes” that denied many rights to African Americans and allowed unnecessary arrests. The following month, in December 1865, the states ratified the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery. Early the following year, in February 1866, Congress attempted to protect former slaves by elevating the power of the Freedmen's Bureau. Two months later, in April 1866, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866. In June of that year, Congress submitted the 14th Amendment to the states for ratification. In the summer of 1866, white riots occurred in Memphis and New Orleans, showing Northerners that they needed to do more for the freedmen. The following year, in March 1867, Congress separated the South into two military districts subject to martial law. This allows for the ratification of the 14th Amendment and grants African American men the right to vote. In early 1868 President Johnson was impeached... mid-paper... This influenced national politics by moving toward the first representation of an African American in the state legislature (Digital History: Congressional Reconstruction). 4.) Why did the federal government abandon its pursuit of racial equality? The federal government abandoned its pursuit of racial equality due to the disputed presidential election of 1876. This played a role in this due to a split between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden. After many clashes and voting discrepancies it came to a meeting in February 1877 in Washington D.C. where Democratic leaders accepted Hayes' election in exchange for many Republican promises. It was then that the Compromise of 1877 was reached and federal troops were withdrawn from the South. This brought Reconstruction to a formal end and thus the end of the protection and pursuit of racial equality.