Study Notes on the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments and Reconstruction Era

Review of the Fourteenth Amendment and Post-Civil War Reconstruction

• Fourteenth Amendment Overview

  • Proposed by Republicans during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.

  • Aimed to establish civil rights and rectify conditions in Southern states post-war.

• Key Provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment

  • Guarantees citizenship for all individuals born in the United States, counteracting claims made by Donald Trump regarding citizenship of children born to undocumented parents.

  • Directly states: "If you are born in The United States, you are an American citizen."

  • Mandates male suffrage in Southern states, ensuring that black men have the right to vote.

  • Southern states that refuse to ratify these provisions face representation penalties in Congress.

  • Note on the importance of representation:

  • Southern states risk losing their Congressional influence if they do not comply.

• Historical Context

  • The Southern states, which had seceded from the Union, were under pressure to readmit black voters to regain Congressional representation.

  • Black voters generally aligned with the Republican Party, as it was viewed as the more progressive option during this time.

• Impact on Voting Rights

  • Introduction of the word "male" led to disappointment among advocates for female suffrage, who were fighting for voting rights for women.

  • Charles Sumner's comment highlighted future challenges regarding women's rights, calling it "the great question of the future."

• Reaction of Southern Democrat Leadership

  • President Andrew Johnson advised Southern states against ratifying the Fourteenth Amendment, promising political defeat for Republicans in upcoming elections.

  • However, racial violence erupted, leading to widespread killings of blacks in cities like New Orleans and Memphis, thereby undermining trust in Johnson’s claims that Southern whites could be controlled.

• Congressional Response

  • Johnson’s opposition resulted in significant Republican victories in the 1866 elections.

  • Congress enacted the Military Reconstruction Act in 1867 due to continued Southern resistance to Reconstruction policies.

• Military Reconstruction Act

  • Divided unreconstructed Confederate states into five military districts, each overseen by a Union general.

  • The act aimed to establish order, suppress violence, and enforce civil rights protections.

  • The act mandated that states draft new constitutions guaranteeing black suffrage before rejoining Congress.

• Significance of the Amendments

  • The Fourteenth Amendment represented a commitment to change in the political landscape of America, while also addressing racial injustices.

  • Although the Military Reconstruction Act sought to ensure political participation and civil rights for black Americans, advocates noted that it didn’t facilitate land ownership for black citizens.

• Social and Political Ramifications

  • The act highlighted the failures of not guaranteeing land or economic support for newly freed individuals.

  • Johnson's resistance and subsequent impeachment demonstrated the deep political divisions and the struggle between Congressional power and presidential authority.

• Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

  • Johnson faced impeachment due to his violation of the Tenure of Office Act, which required Senate approval for the removal of cabinet members.

  • Following his impeachment by the House, Johnson was acquitted by the Senate, falling one vote short of removal.

  • Post-impeachment, Johnson refrained from obstructing Congressional Reconstruction.

• Fifteenth Amendment Overview

  • Ratified in February 1869, it prohibited states from denying voting rights based on race, color, or past servitude.

  • Extended black male suffrage nationwide, but left loopholes for states to impose hindrances (e.g., literacy tests, property requirements) that disproportionately affected black voters.

  • Women’s suffrage advocates were left again frustrated, as the Fifteenth Amendment did not extend voting rights to them, leading to a fracture between women's rights and abolitionist movements.

• Republican Perspective Post-Fifteenth Amendment

  • Republicans perceived racial equality issues as resolved with the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment, allowing them to neglect ongoing civil rights issues.

• Legacy of Reconstruction Era Amendments

  • Despite the intentions of these amendments, African Americans continued to face systemic discrimination and barriers in achieving true equality and civil rights.

  • The Congressional efforts represented pivotal moments in the struggle over civil rights that would resonate in American society for over a century.