Radical Reconstruction

Who dominated Congress in 1866, what did they think should happen to the South?

Republicans.

They believed the Southern states should end slavery, and freed slaves should be enfranchised

What were the 2 Civil Rights Acts of 1866?

• First bill aimed to extend the life of the Freedman’s Bureau, set up by Congress in 1865 to help ex-slaves / Second bill aimed to give blacks civil rights. Although Johnson exercised his veto on both, Congress overrode him and both bills became Acts in 1866.

• Under the 1866 Civil Rights Act, all people born in the US automatically acquired citizenship + recognition was given to the federal gov’s right to intervene in state affairs to protect citizens’ rights.

What was the 14th Amendment?

Had the 1866 Civil Rights Act incorporated into it as a reinforcement of the law.

It struck down the Black Codes, guaranteeing all citizens equality before the law + confirmed that the federal government could intervene if a state tried to deny citizenship to anyone + banned most of the old Confederate elite from holding office.

Why was the 14th Amendment so important?

It aimed to secure citizenship and equal protection under the law for African Americans, addressing discrimination. Ensured states couldn’t deprive individuals of rights without fair legal procedures.

It also defined citizenship to protect political representation for formerly enslaved individuals and limited state powers that could suppress civil rights.

What was the Military Reconstruction Act?

The result of Congress’ decision to enforce its own version of Reconstruction on the South.

This Act stated: 1) apart from Tennessee, no Southern state had a legal government, 2) the south could not send reps to Congress without its consent, 3) ex-Confederate states should be governed by military commanders and 4) in order to return to the Union, Southern states had to draw up new constitutions that would allow black males to vote/ratify 14th Amendment/ disqualify Confederate office holders from political participation.

What were the pitfalls of the Military Reconstruction Act?

Did not create any federal agencies to protect black rights / did not give economic aid to freed slaves / did not disenfranchise Southern whites

Why did Congress believe the M.R Act was so important?

Aimed to reintegrate Southern states into the Union while enforcing civil rights for formerly enslaved individuals. The Act sought to ensure political stability by restoring order in the tumultuous South and to implement Reconstruction policies that guaranteed voting rights for Black men. It also emphasized congressional authority over Reconstruction, countering President Johnson’s lenient approach. 

What was the 15th Amendment?

Stated that ‘the right to vote should not be denied on account of race, color or previous conditions of servitude’. Revolutionary as only eight of the Northern states allowed black voting at the time. 

Who proposed the 15th Amendment and why?

• Congress passed the 15th Amendment, headed by Ulysses Grant (who won the 1868 presidential election by a narrow victory owed to Southern black voters)

• Passed because there was a desire to secure the political rights of the formerly enslaved individuals after the Civil War

What were the weaknesses of the 15th Amendment?

The Amendment did not 1) guarantee men’s right to vote or 2) forbid states to introduce literacy, property and education tests for would-be voters. Meant that there were loopholes where this Amendment could technically be ignored or looked over.

What does it mean to ratify an amendment?

To ratify an amendment means to formally approve and adopt it, making it part of the law.

In the context of the U.S. Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths (or 38 out of 50) of the state legislatures before it officially becomes part of the Constitution.

When was the 15th Amendment ratified?

1870

What was the Civil Rights Act? When was it passed? What were the downsides to this act?

• Passed in 1875, the Act passed by the Republicans aimed to prevent discrimination in public places such as railroads, hotels and theatres

• Unfortunately the Act failed to mention that discrimination in schools, cemeteries and churches was unlawful.

When was the Civil Rights Act revoked and why?

In 1883, the Supreme Court ruled the Act unconstitutional on the basis that it was a state government jurisdiction, not the responsibility of federal government.

This was a clear sign that the white backlash had triumphed.

How were results of black voting positive?

Between 1869 and 1877, sixteen black congressman and two black senators were elected to the US Congress.

Over 700 black men served in state legislatures. Most were former slaves.

In Republican-controlled legislatures, black legislators contributed to the passage of laws that increased funding for public education and that required equal access to transportation and public facilities.

Around 1000 Black Americans were elected to local posts that gave them considerable power.

Several black sheriffs were elected in rural Mississippi, while Republican city governments appointed black police and provided poor relief.

Although there was more black political representation, what were the downsides?

The proportion of black officials was far short of the proportion of black voters. Even though white Republicans were outnumbered by black Republicans, they still dominated the Southern states during Recon. No black state governor was elected and no state senate had a black majority (besides South Carolina in the lower house).

Black Americans in the South still lacked education, organisation and experience, were accustomed to white leadership and domination, and the black community itself was divided (especially between ex-slaves and free-born blacks who saw themselves as superior).

Give an example of political, racist violence towards a black representative

One of the two black US senators from Mississippi, Charles Caldwell, was shot by whites in a tavern

In what position did the Civil War leave the former Confederate states in?

• Deaths of 25% of the white adult male population.

• Mostly Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia were the worst states devastated by the war

• Economy was in ruins and abolition of slavery meant that slave owners experienced a loss of $2bn in property

How did the Northern states ensure the former Confederacy accepted the dramatic post-Civil War changes?

The area suffered military occupation from 1867.