Radical Reconstruction

Radical Reconstruction

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Radical Republicans take charge

• In the 1867 Midterm elections the Radical Republicans gained a super majority in Congress, with enough power to override any veto passed by President Johnson

Multiple Choice

What important power did the Radical Republicans gain in 1867?

• A Republican President

• Enough members to override the President's vetoes

• A Vice President that was on their side

• More funding to run Reconstruction

Violence in the South

• In 1866 there were two massacres in the south that gained national attention

• In Memphis and New Orleans black veterans were attacked as they returned home and black communities were terrorized.

Military Reconstruction Act

• Radical Republicans in Congress were outraged by this violence in the south as well as the passage of Black Codes

• In 1867 the Military Reconstruction Act was passed, putting the south under military control 

Multiple Choice

How did the Radical Republicans plan to stop the violence in the southern states?

• By putting them under military control

• By passing the 13th amendment

• By arresting ex-confederate leaders

Radical Reconstruction

• With their override power Radical Republicans wanted to get more Constitutional amendments passed to protect freedmen. Under Radical Reconstruction, Southern states would not get to rejoin the Union until they agreed to a few terms:

Radical Reconstruction

• Southern states were required to ratify the the 14th amendment to the Constitution. This amendment would give African Americans citizenship and equal treatment under the law.

• Once African Americans were considered citizens, the Black codes would be considered unconstitutional and have to be repealed

Radical Reconstruction

• Radical Republicans also required the confederate states to give African Americans the right to vote

• They also temporarily took away voting rights from leaders of the Confederacy

Multiple Select

What TWO things did the Radical Republicans force the Confederate states to do before re-entering the Union?

• Ratify the 14th amendment

• Abolish slavery

• Pay a fine to the federal government

• Give African American men the right to vote

Video: Radical Reconstruction

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Struggle for power over Reconstruction

• In the 1860s Reconstruction was a struggle for power between Congress and President Johnson

• Johnson vetoed 29 laws passed by Congress. However, 15 of these vetoes were overriden by Congress (he was the most overridden President in history) 

Struggle for power over Reconstruction

• Johnson’s vetoes slowed down the progress of Reconstruction, and in particular caused a lack of funding for the Freedmen’s Bureau

• However, Congress was determined to limit the power of President Johnson in any way possible

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the power struggle between Johnson and Congress?

• Johnson didn't have any impact on Congress

• Johnson and Congress worked together to make Reconstruction a success

• Johnson had a lot more power than Congress

• Johnson vetoed laws passed by Congress but Congress overrode his vetoes

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was an effect of Johnson's actions?

• Congress lost power

• Congress was shut down for a few months

• The Freedmen's Bureau wasn't given enough funding

• The 13th amendment was not ratified

Getting rid of Johnson

• Impeachment would be the best way to stop Johnson, so Congress planned to set him up

• In 1867 Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act that stated that the President could not fire cabinet members without Congress’ permission. Johnson frequently fired cabinet members so they figured he would violate this law

Getting rid of Johnson

• In February 21, 1868 Johnson had violated this law by firing his head of the war department without getting Congress’ approval

• Three days later Congress voted to impeach Andrew Johnson for abusing his power.

Remember, impeachment occurs when the House of Representatives votes to put a government leader on trial. They are impeached when they go on trial. However, 2/3rds of the Senate has to agree to convict the president in order for him to be removed from office

Impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson

• While the Republicans made up more than 2/3rds of the people in Congress, they weren't all in agreement

• Some believed the Tenure of Office act was unconstitutional and others were not fans about the man next in line to the Presidency

The Senate was just one vote short of removing Johnson from office

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true?

• Johnson was removed from office

• Johnson was impeached by Congress but not removed from office

• Johnson was almost impeached

Aftermath of Impeachment

• As the first president to be impeached, Johnson took efforts to save his reputation. He promised to enforce the Reconstruction Acts and to stop giving speeches attacking Congress.

• For the rest of his Presidency he took a back seat, allowing Congress to run reconstruction

Multiple Choice

How did the impeachment of Johnson impact his power?

• He gained greater support from many Americans

• He became less powerful and Congress ran Reconstruction

• He was removed from office

1868 Presidential Election

• Andrew Johnson did not run for a second term. 

• Former Union General, Ulysses S. Grant, ran from the Republican party and Horatio Seymour ran from the Democratic Party

Multiple Choice

Who became President in 1868?

• Horatio Seymour

• Ulysses S. Grant

• Andrew Johnson

• Robert E. Lee

Grant's Presidency

• Throughout his presidency, Grant would support Radical Republican policies and protect the rights of freedmen in the south 

• 👏 Congress and the President are on the same team!! 👏

15th Amendment

• Grant pushed for all states to ratify the 15th amendment to the Constitution to make sure voting rights for African American men were protected

• The 15th Amendment states that the right vote cannot be denied because of race.

• However, it will be another 50 years before women of any race get the right to vote

15th Amendment

• African American men could also run for positions in government

• In the 1870s more than 2,000 African Americans were elected into government positions, from the local level all the way up to the federal government

• 16 African Americans served in U.S. Congress during Reconstruction

Multiple Choice

What did the 15th amendment guarantee?

• an end to slavery

• citizenship rights for everyone born in this country

• the right to vote cannot be denied based on race

• freedom of speech

Multiple Choice

What was a major effect of the 15th Amendment?

• Several African American men were elected into positions in government

• White American men in the south lost the right to vote

• Slavery was officially abolished

• African American women gained the right to vote