Political Development 1 (1865-1890) Flashcards
What is the executive branch? What’s is their responsibility?
President - To enforce the laws
What is the legislative branch? What is their responsibility?
Congress - To create laws
What is the judicial branch? What is their responsibility?
The Supreme Court - To interpret the Constitution
When was the Reconstruction Period?
1865 to 1877
When did the Civil War end? Who was successful?
The Union (Northern states) won the US Civil war on the 9th April 1861 - Lincoln assassinated a week later.
Who took over presidency after Lincoln (15th April 1865)?
Andrew Johnson - Lincoln’s vice president
What were black codes?
Laws passed in separate states to enforce segregation.
What was the first state to institute laws that abolished African American’s full civil rights?
Mississippi
When was the Freedman’s Bureau passed? And when was its power renewed?
It was passed on March 3rd 1865 and renewed in 1866.
Evidence suggesting aiding African Americans was not at the foresight of President Johnson
Johnson used his presidential veto against the renewal of the Freedman’s Bureau and the introduction of the Civil Rights Act in March 1866.
What was the de’facto of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 which granted African American’s equal citizenship to white people?
The de’facto was that many states had black codes which led to black Americans being treated as second-class citizens.
What civil liberties did the Civil Rights Act of 1866 outline?
All citizens had the right to:
Make contracts
Own and sell property
Receive equal treatment under the law
Who came to power in the election of 1866? What was their aim?
The Radical Republicans - their aim was to punish the South
Which branch of government could override President Johnson’s vetoes of the Radical Republican’s initiatives?
The Legislative branch - Congress
Why did the Senate fail to impeach President Johnson?
They needed 1 more vote to convict Johnson - but his power to hinder radical reform was diminished
What were Carpetbaggers?
Northerners who came to the south for political and economic reasons. They were considered corrupt who used Reconstruction to advance their own personal interests.
Who didn’t support the Radical Republicans?
WASPS and the KKK