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