Chapter 18 The Reconstruction Era (1865-1896)

Lesson 2 The Radicals Take Control

African Americans’ Rights

• Some whites tried to terrorize African Americans (Burning churches and homes)
• Convinced Radical Republicans that President Johnson’s Reconstruction plan was not strong enough
• Fall 1865- Southern states created new governments based on Johnson’s plan
• Also elected new representatives to Congress
• When the representatives arrived in Washington, D.C., Congress refused to seat them

Black Codes

• Early 1866- Southern states passes black codes
• Laws to control freed men and women
• Allowed plantation owners to exploit African American workers
• Also allowed officials to arrest and fine jobless African Americans
• Banned African Americans from owning or renting farms
• To many, the black codes resembled slavery

Freedmen’s Bureau

• Early 1866- Congress passed a bill giving the Freedmen’s Bureau new powers
• The Bureau could set up courts and try people charged with violating the rights of African Americans
• African Americans could serve on juries in these courts
• Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866- Granted full citizenship to African Americans
• The federal government could also intervene in state affairs to protect their rights
• Also overturned the black codes
• Also contradicted the 1857 Dred Scott decision

The Two Bills

• Johnson vetoed both
• Johnson argued that both the Freedmen’s Bureau bill and the Civil Rights Act were unconstitutional
• Because they were approved by a Congress that did not include representatives from all the states
• Republicans in Congress had enough votes to override both vetoes and the bills became law
• Congress and the President were not working together
• Radical Republicans abandoned the idea of compromise and drafted their own Reconstruction plan

The 14^th Amendment

• Fearing the Civil Rights Act might be overturned in court, Congress passed the 14^th Amendment in 1866 (enacted in 1868)
• Granted full citizenship to all born in the United States
• Most African Americans became full citizens
• Gave all rights to African Americans
• Life, liberty, and property
• Every citizen was entitled to “equal protection of the laws”

14^th Amendment Continued

• If a state prevented any adult male citizen from voting, then it could lose representation in Congress
• The amendment also barred former Confederate leaders from holding office (unless pardoned by Congress)
• The 14^th Amendment excluded Native Americans
• Southern states had to ratify the amendment to rejoin the Union
• Of the 11 Southern states, only Tennessee ratified it
• It did not take effect until 1868

Republican Victory

• Congressional elections of 1866
• President Johnson campaigned against Radical Republicans
• Many Northerners objected to the nasty tone of Johnson’s campaign
• Also feared clashes between whites and African Americans
• The Republicans won a solid victory, and took Reconstruction into their own hands

Reconstruction Acts of 1867

• Johnson had no power (overrides)
• Congress passed the First Reconstruction Act and the Second Reconstruction Act
• The 10 Southern states that didn’t ratify the 14^th Amendment had new governments created
• The 10 states were divided into 5 military districts , each run by a military commander
• African American men were guaranteed the right to vote
• Also banned former Confederate leaders from holding public office
• To rejoin the Union, the states had to ratify the 14^th Amendment and submit new state constitutions to Congress for approval
• Military commanders prepared state constitutional conventions

Readmitting the States

• Many white Southerners refused to vote
• 1000s of newly registered African American voters voted
• Republicans gained control of Southern state governments
• By 1868- 7 states were readmitted (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina)
• By 1870- Mississippi, Virginia, and Texas were restored to the Union

President Johnson

• Johnson opposed Radical Reconstruction
• Johnson used his power of commander in chief of the army to direct the military governors
• Congress passed laws to limit the presidents power, such as the Tenure of Office Act
• This Act prohibited the president from removing government officials, including members of his own cabinet, without the Senate’s approval
• Conflict between Johnson and the Radicals grew more intense

Johnson and the Radicals

• August 1867- Congress was not in session
• Johnson suspended Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without the Senate’s approval
• Congress met again and refused to approve the suspension, Johnson removed Stanton from office
• This violated the Tenure of Office Act
• Johnson also appointed people the Radical Republicans opposed to command some of the Southern military districts

Impeaching the President

• Outraged by Johnson’s actions, the House of Representatives voted to impeach the president
• Formally charge him of wrongdoings
• 1868- the case went to the Senate for a trial that lasted almost 3 months
• Both sides made their arguments
• The senators failed to achieve the 2/3^rd majority required for conviction (1 vote)
• As a result, Johnson stayed in office until the end of 1869

Election of 1868

• The Republicans nominated Ulysses S. Grant, the Civil War hero
• The Democrats chose Horatio Seymour
• Grant won most of the African American votes in the South and won the presidency
• This election showed that voters supported the Republican approach to Reconstruction

15^th Amendment

• 1869- Congress passed the 15^th Amendment
• Prohibited state and federal governments from denying the right to vote to any male citizen
• Because of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”
• African American men won the right to vote in 1870
• Republicans believed the power of the vote would enable African Americans to protect themselves
• This belief was too optimistic

Chapter 18 Lesson 2 Quiz

African Americans were granted full citizenship by the

1. 14th Amendment.
2. Ten Percent Law.
3. Civil Rights Act of 1866.
4. black codes.

All individuals born in the United States were granted full citizenship by the

1. Thirteenth Amendment.
2. black codes.
3. Civil Rights Act of 1866.
4. Fourteenth Amendment.

The only Southern state to immediately ratify the Fourteenth Amendment was

1. Maryland.
2. Tennessee.
3. Kentucky.
4. North Carolina.

When President Andrew Johnson violated the Tenure of Office Act, the House of Representatives voted to

1. impeach.
2. applaud him.
3. abstain.
4. override.

Which amendment gave African American men the right to vote?

1. Thirteenth Amendment
2. Fourteenth Amendment
3. Fifteenth Amendment
4. Sixteenth Amendment