Congressional "Radical" Reconstruction

late 1865-66, Republicans in Congress seized control of Reconstruction * some “radicals” supported racial equality * most wanted the power of Black southern votes
February 1866, Civil Rights Act * universal birth rights citizenship (except for most Native Americans) * Johnson vetoed, Congress overrode
June 1866, the 14th Amendment * universal citizenship and equal protection under the law for all native-born or naturalized Americans * federal government could enforce over states * barred some former CSA officials from holding office
1867, First Reconstruction Act was established * dissolved southern state governments * divided the region into 5 military districts * military governors * federal troops on the ground * new terms for re-entering the Union: * ratify 14th Amendment * new state constitutions enfranchising Black men * abolish black codes
February 1869, 15th Amendment was passed: * voting rights regardless of race or previous servitude * federal enforcement
Johnson obstructed all efforts and narrowly survived his impeachment

military protection allowed widespread African American voting in South * 80% of Republican voters in the South * gained Republican control of Congress, state governments, and presidency, especially 1868-74 * allowed ratification of the 14th and 15th amendments
African American men in political office: * overall, 1500+ appointed or elected, 1865-77 * at the federal level: * 2 senators * 14 representatives * 270 in federal patronage positions * 1000+ elected to state/local office in the South, including about 800 state legislators * state constitutional conventions 1868-69

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