Congressional "Radical" Reconstruction

Phase 2: 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

“Radical” Reconstruction Results

• 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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