112B: Reconstruction under Johnson Flashcards
What position did Andrew Johnson hold before he became president?
Vice-president
What views has Johnson been criticised to have?
The racial views of most white Southerners and unconcerned about the plight of ex-slaves
What have more recent biographers claimed about Johnson?
He introduced the right Reconstruction policies but lacked the ability to carry them out
What did the South want to do as soon as possible?
Restore the Southern states
What did Johnson favour when dealing with the South?
Leniency
Who did Johnson side with?
The Democrats
How did Johnson respond to Congress passing a bill strengthening the power of the Freedmen’s Bureau?
He vetoed the bill
Why did Johnson veto the bill strengthening the Freedmen’s Bureau?
He knew it would anger the South and make Reconstruction more difficult
What did the Moderate Republicans and the Radicals join forces to introduce?
The Civil Rights Bill
How did Johnson respond to the Civil Rights Bill?
He vetoed the bill
How did Congress respond to Johnson vetoing the Civil Rights Bill?
Congress, for the first time in history, overturned the presidential veto. The Civil Rights Bill was introduced in 1866
What was introduced to ensure that the Civil Rights Bill could not be changed?
The Fourteenth Amendment
What did the Fourteenth Amendment state?
That people who were born in the USA and all citizens were guaranteed equality. It also gave the federal authorities the right to intervene if states contravened its rules
Who rejected the 14th Amendment?
All the ex-Confederate states except Tennessee and the Amendment failed to get the approval of the 75% states needed for it to become law
What did Congress do in order to ensure the passage of the Amendment?
Introduced a series of plans known as ‘Radical Reconstruction’
What did the Military Reconstruction Bill do?
It imposed military rule on the South (except Tennessee)
The states were placed under federal commanders and in order for the states to reenter the Union they would need to accept Black Suffrage and accept the Fourteenth amendment
What was the result of the Command of the Army Act?
It reduced Johnson’s military powers
What did the Tenure of Office Act do?
Prevented Johnson from removing a host of office-holders
What did Johnson ignore which resulted in the decision to impeach him?
He ignored the Tenure of Office Act and dismissed the Secretary of State: Edwin Stanton, resulting in the Republicans deciding to impeach Johnson
What is impeachment?
Formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity
What was the result of the impeachment trial of Johnson?
35 senators voted against Johnson, 19 voted for him. This was one short of the 2/3 majority needed so Johnson remained in place as president
How did the attempted impeachment affect Johnson?
It destroyed his credibility and effectiveness as a president
