1.2 How far did radical reconstruction change the position of black Americans in the former Confederacy?

Question 1

What was Radical Reconstruction?

Answer 1

• Radical republicans (mostly from North East) - aims to transform south, achieve quality, punish confed
• Need for action - Tennessee - 46 black Americans Killed

Question 2

what Legislations in 1867 passed by congress

Answer 2

o Military Reconstruction Act
o Command of the Army Act
o the Tenure of Office Act

Question 3

Describe Military Reconstruction Act?

Answer 3

o Military Reconstruction Act divided former Confederate states into 5 military districts under commanders to employ the army to protect life and property
o Former Confederate states had to have a written constitution provided the right to vote for all adult males and supporting the 14th Amendment

♣iNVALIDATED STATE GOVES APPROVED BY JOHNSON.
♣New state govt had to support 14A

Question 4

Immediate impact

Answer 4

• –> hated in the south - army of occupation
• –> 15% of YT voters disenfranchised
• –> 700,000 ex-slaves enfranchised = 5 states had black majorities, e.g. Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama
• –> Influx of northerners (carpetbaggers)

Question 5

Impact of RR on B.A

Answer 5

• MR Act = f confed accepted B.A right to vote 15A

- Military gov directly ruled f confed. Implement FB + PROTECTING EX-SLAVES + Scalawags + carpetbaggers from KKK

Question 6

Impact of RR on YT.A

Answer 6

saw the Northern occupying

Last years of RR democrats- confed govt elected across South - ‘redeemers’ gov

Question 7

What was the reaction to congress leg in 1867?

Answer 7

southerners hostile toward them
aggressive
no impact cause next elections might be southerners
= SHORT TERM IMPACT = LIMITED

Question 8

Describe the impacts of the Reconstruction Acts of 1867

Answer 8

o Temporarily disenfranchised 15% of the potential WA voters
o Led to the enfranchisement of 703,000 ex-slaves
o So, black voters outnumbered white votes by almost 100,000, with black voting majorities in 5 states e.g. Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama

Question 9

What leg was passed to improve the Civil Rights of B.A?

Answer 9

14th Amendment = 1868
15th Amendment = 1869
Civil rights Act 1875

Question 10

AIMS of 14th Amendment

Answer 10

• 1868
• 14th gave all citizens equal protection from the law, excluded former confederate leaders from politics and defined what it was to be a US citizen
• Anyone who was a born or naturalised citizen and subject to its jurisdiction could vote

Question 11

What did the 14th Amendment reverse?

Answer 11

o Reversed the US Supreme Court decision of 1857, known as the Dred Scott case
= all ex- slaves became citizens of usa

Question 12

AIMS of 15th Amendment

Answer 12

• 15th prohibited any federal or state governments from depriving any US citizens the vote on racial grounds in 1870
o Seen as a revolutionary measure and as the central feature of Radical Reconstruction to the Democrats in Congress
o But made no reference to ex-slaves holding political office or making the vote uniform across the USA
- Resented as education was expensive

Question 13

What were the problems with the 15th Amendment?

Answer 13

• NO reference to ex-slaves holding political office or making the vote uniform across the USA
• ## FAILED = Henry Wilson, criticised the proposal because it did not forbid literacy, property or educational tests

Question 14

AIMS of Civil Rights act

Answer 14

Proclaimed many aims of RRs like supporting equality before the law for all citizens and justice for all regardless of race and colour and the full enjoyment of all ‘inns, public conveyances on land and water, theatres and other places of public amusement’

This was the last Act of Reconstruction.

Question 15

1876 US V Reese

Answer 15

US Supreme Court threw out an indictment against a Kentucky official who had prevented US citizens from voting
o The court judgement had decided that the 15th Amendment did not give the right to vote to anyone

Question 16

US Supreme Court Decision 1873 - the slaughterhouse decision

Answer 16

the 14th protected the right of national citizenship but did not protect the rights of individuals from state citizenship
o So, the federal government did not safeguard the rights of BAs from any violations by the states
♣ Negated the impact of the 14th Amendments

Question 17

When did Radical Reconstruction end?

Answer 17

• 1877, after Rutherford B. Hayes was elected, Radical Reconstruction had been ended and the last of the troops were removed from the north

Question 18

Political reasons for the end of Reconstruction in 1877

Answer 18

1) 1872- Amnesty Act = pardoned many officials from the former Confed states
2) Did not provide Federal troops to help the Republican governor of Mississippi tackle white terror groups groups during sate elections.
3) Democrats blamed the North for the economic depression due to them helping B.A so they politicians advocating less fed govt intervention

Question 19

Economic factors for the end of Reconstruction in 1877?

Answer 19

1868- Grant’s presidency = Congress refused to find extra funding for the Freedman’s Bureau

in 1873 economic depression.

Question 20

Actions of YT supremacist groups are reason for the end of Reconstruction in 1877?

Answer 20

yt Supremacist groups such as KKK had caused widespread fear and intimidation. They made it difficult for B.A in South to vote and be involved in politics. Their actions disrupted the republican rule in the south.

Question 21

How sig was the presence of B.A representatives in federal and state legislators?

Answer 21

POSTIVE

1) state gov elected 600
2) 2 served as senators from south
3) 14 served HoR

NEGATIVES

1) Only 1 state political convention in S Carolina, had majority of B delegates
2) none elected to governor
3) Seen as inexperienced as they under the Carpetbaggers + scalawags

Question 22

Supreme court hinder or help the position of ex-slaves?

Answer 22

✘ 1857 - Dred scott- ex-slaves not full citizens undermining 14A
✔1865 - 13A ratified
✔1867 - 14A
✔1870 - 15A
✘ 1876 - US V Reese = supported Kentucky - prevent B.A from Voting undermining Civil rights act, 15A
✘ 1883 - declared the Civil Rights Act of 1875 unconstitutional in 1883