Lesson 2: Radical Reconstruction Flashcards
Black Codes Definition
southern laws that severely limited the rights of African Americans after the Civil War
Fifteenth Amendment Definition
an 1869 amendment to the United States Constitution that forbids any state to deny African Americans the right to vote because of race
Fourteenth Amendment Definition
an 1868 amendment to the United States Constitution that guarantees equal protection of the laws
Impeach Definition
to bring charges of serious wrongdoing against a public official
Radical Reconstruction Definition
a period beginning in 1867 when the Republicans, who had control in both houses of Congress, took charge of Reconstruction
Radical Republican Definition
a member of Congress during Reconstruction who wanted to break the power of wealthy southern plantation owners and ensure that freedmen received the right to vote
Reconstruction Act Definition
an 1867 law that threw out the southern state governments that refused to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment
Although Southern States followed President Johnson’s Reconstruction policy, what unfair laws did they pass?
Black Codes
What were some of the rights given to African Americans by the black codes? What did they generally and specifically state?
The black codes did grant some rights. For example, African Americans could marry legally and own some kinds of property. Still, the codes were clearly meant to keep freedmen from gaining political or economic power. Black codes forbade freedmen to vote, own guns, or serve on juries. In some states, African Americans were permitted to work only as servants or farm laborers. In others, they had to sign contracts for a year’s work. Those without contracts could be arrested and sentenced to work on a plantation.
What events led to Reconstruction becoming radical?
Republicans charged that, by placing too few restrictions on the South, Johnson’s Reconstruction plan had encouraged southern legislatures to pass the black codes. Republicans were also outraged by reports of violence against freedmen. In 1866, white police officers in Memphis, Tennessee, attacked African American Union soldiers, who fired back at the officers. A protest against the police ended in violence, and rioting broke out. Angry whites burned homes and schools in a black section of the city. Similar riots broke out in New Orleans when freedmen met to support the right to vote. A report by the Joint Committee on Reconstruction accused the South of trying to “preserve slavery … as long as possible.” When President Johnson ignored the report, members of Congress called Radical Republicans vowed to take control of Reconstruction.
Who were the leaders of the Radical Republicans in each part of Congress? What were their goals?
The Radicals were led by Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania in the House and Charles Sumner of Massachusetts in the Senate. Radical Republicans had two main goals. First, they wanted to break the power of wealthy planters who had long ruled the South. Second, they wanted to ensure that freedmen received the right to vote. They used legislative reforms, or changes in laws, to achieve their goals.
What legislative reforms were made by Radical Republicans? Why did Republicans have an advantage in the Senate? What was the Civil Rights Act in April 1866?
Radicals needed the support of moderate Republicans, the largest group in Congress. Moderates and Radicals disagreed on many issues, but they shared a strong political motive. Most southerners were Democrats. With southerners barred from Congress, Republicans could control both houses. To combat the black codes, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in April 1866. It gave citizenship to African Americans. When Johnson vetoed the bill, Congress overrode the veto.
What fear caused the Radical and Moderate Republicans to form the Fourteenth Amendment in 1866? When was it ratified? What did it state? What happened to states that did not comply with its measures?
Republicans feared that the Supreme Court might use its power of judicial review to declare the Civil Rights Act unconstitutional. In the Dred Scott decision of 1857, the Court had ruled that African Americans were not citizens. To avoid a similar ruling, Republicans proposed the Fourteenth Amendment. It defined citizens as “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.” (The amendment did not apply to most Native Americans.) It guaranteed citizens “equal protection of the laws” and forbade states to “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.” Thus, states could not legally discriminate against a citizen on unreasonable grounds, such as race.
The Fourteenth Amendment was proposed in 1866. As you will read, it was not ratified for another two years. Under the Fourteenth Amendment, any state that denied any male citizen age 21 or older the right to vote would have its representation in Congress reduced. Republicans believed that freedmen would be able to defend their rights if they could vote.
What has been the impact of the Fourteenth Amendment?
Republicans hoped the impact of the amendment on life in the United States would be to secure basic political rights for African Americans in the South. That goal would take a century to achieve. In the 1950s, the Fourteenth Amendment became a powerful tool in the struggle for citizenship rights.
How did Johnson react to the Fourteenth Amendiment?
President Johnson encouraged former Confederate states to reject the Fourteenth Amendment. He also decided to make the amendment an issue in the 1866 congressional elections.