Congressional Reconstruction

between congress and P.Johnson, textbook pages 5 and 6

what was congressional reconstruction?

policies initiated by Congress in opposition to Johnson

what was Johnson’s first use of the veto?

the renewal of the Freedmen’s Bureau → provided assistance to African-Americans with family issues, legal advice etc

what was congressional reconstruction?

policies initiated by Congress in opposition to Johnson

what was Johnson’s first use of the veto?

the renewal of the Freedmen’s Bureau → provided assistance to African-Americans with family issues, legal advice etc

what was Congress’ response to Johnson’s first veto? when + what was Johnson’s response to this?

Congress voted extend the life of the FB for 3 more years. Johnson vetoed this in Feb,1866

what Act did Congress pass to do with rights of African-Americans and what was Johnson’s response?

the Civil Rights Act, March 1866, re-stating the equal rights of African-Americans and authorising federal intervention to enforce this. Johnson vetoed this aswell.

what amendment was passed to secure the Civil Rights Act?

14th amendment

what did this amendment ensure?

equal citizenship rights and voting rights

what did Johnson do in retaliation to Congress passing this amendment?

refused to compromise and denounced it

what did Johnson try to set up?

a new centrist political party, the National Union Party

why did Johnson not succeed in his plan?

the Republicans gained an even stronger hold on the Senate

what act did Congress next pass?

Reconstruction Act

what did Johnson do in reaction to this?

vetoed

what did Congress do when Johnson vetoed this to pass the act?

Congress voted it through again, overriding the presidential veto

what did the Reconstruction Act do to the southern states?

their reintegration of the southern states was declared void except for Tennessee. other 10 ex-Confederate states put under direct military rule . the state would need to ratify the 14th amendment to be accepted into the Union

what did more radical republicans want to do?

confiscate estates and redistribute it to freedmen

what did Johnson do in response to the Reconstruction act?

placed conservative military officers in control of the 5 military districts

what other opposition did Congressional Reconstruction have? (2)

• the setting up of the KKK in 1865 by a small group of ex-confederate soldiers

• major race riots in the South in the summer of 1866