Topic 1: Radical Reconstruction

Question 1

what 2 bills caused bitter clashes between congressional Republicans and Johnson and the Democrats?

Answer 1

• Civil Rights Bill
• bill proposing to extend the life of the Freedmen’s Bureau

Question 2

what happened to these bills that caused clashing?

Answer 2

Johnson tried to veto but was overridden, both passes in 1866

Question 3

what did the 1866 Civil Right Act do?

Answer 3

meant everyone born in the US was a US citizen, apart from Native Americans

Question 4

when was Radical Reconstruction?

Answer 4

1867-77

Question 5

what power carried out Radical Reconstruction?

Answer 5

the Republican-dominated Congress

Question 6

when was the 14th Amendment proposed by Congress?

Answer 6

1866

Question 7

what did the 14A essentially aim to do?

Answer 7

give BA citizenship

Question 8

what were the 3 main provisions of the 14A?

Answer 8

• struck down Black Codes + guaranteed citizens equality before law
• fed gov can intervene if state gov denies citizenship rights
• banned most of old Confederate elite from holding office

Question 9

what held up the passage of the 14A and what was the result?

Answer 9

all old Confederate states (bar Tennessee) rejected it (75% ratification needed). Exasperated the North. Led to the Military Reconstruction Act

Question 10

how many old confederate states rejected the 14A?

Answer 10

all but Tennessee

Question 11

when was the 14A eventually passed?

Answer 11

1868

Question 12

when was the Military Reconstruction Act passed?

Answer 12

1867

Question 13

what actually was Radical Reconstruction?

Answer 13

Congressional policy to decrease power of old Confederate elite in the south and increase power of ex-slaves

Question 14

what were the terms of the Military Reconstruction Act?

Answer 14

• no southern state had a legal gov apart from Tennessee
• south could not send reps to Congress w/o Congress’ permission
• Ex-Confederate states to be governed by military commanders
• had to draw up new constitutions that ratified the 14A to be allowed back into the Union

Question 15

what was the significance of the Military Reconstruction Act?

Answer 15

gave the fed. gov. the tools to impose Radical Reconstruction on the South

Question 16

who was president after Johnson?

Answer 16

Grant

Question 17

when did Ulysses Grant become President?

Answer 17

1868

Question 18

did President Grant support Radical Reconstruction?

Answer 18

yes

Question 19

when was the 15th Amendment ratified?

Answer 19

1870

Question 20

what did the 15A say?

Answer 20

the right to vote could not be denied on account of race

Question 21

what were the limitations of the 15A?

Answer 21

• did not guarantee men’s right to vote
• did not forbid states from introducing literacy, property or educational tests in order to register to vote?

Question 22

in what way was the 15th Amendment revolutionary?

Answer 22

only 8 Northern states had previously allowed black voting

Question 23

how many Northern states had allowed black voting prior to the 15A?

Answer 23

only 8

Question 24

by which year had all Southern states been readmitted to the Union?

Answer 24

1871

Question 25

how many black males registered to vote in the south after the Civil War? how did this compare to white people?

Answer 25

700,000, compared to 600,000 eligible white people

Question 26

what party did black voters align themselves with?

Answer 26

Republicans

Question 27

when did 700,000 black males register to vote in the south?

Answer 27

after the Civil War

Question 28

what was the result of black voting?

Answer 28

more black representatives in politics

Question 29

how many black men were elected to the US Congress and in what years?

Answer 29

1869-77 16 black congressmen and 2 black senators

Question 30

during what years were 18 black men elected to the US Congress?

Answer 30

1869-77

Question 31

how many black men served in state legislatures?

Answer 31

over 700

Question 32

what was the impact of black men in state legislatures?

Answer 32

in Republican-controlled legislatures, contributed to passing of laws that increased funding for education and equal access to services

Question 33

how many BA were elected to local posts that gave them considerable power?

Answer 33

around 1000

Question 34

around 1000 BA were...

Answer 34

elected to local posts that gave them considerable power

Question 35

what was the significance of black representation?

Answer 35

reflected political revolution and helped to further improve the lives of BA, e.g. black legislatures passing laws for equal access to services

Question 36

what were some of the problems with black representation?

Answer 36

- proportion of black officials far short of proportion of black voters - no black state governor or majority black state senate - state senator Charles Caldwell shot dead in tavern

Question 37

what was the name of the ex-salve state senator who was shot dead in a tavern?

Answer 37

Charles Caldwell

Question 38

what was the proportion of black officials to black voters like?

Answer 38

proportion of black officials far short of proportion of black voters

Question 39

why were black people unable to dominate political life in the south?

Answer 39

- lacked organisation, experience and education - Republican party often put forward white candidates to attract white voters - white Republicans saw white people as better fit for governing - accustomed to white leadership and domination - minority in most states

Question 40

what did the Republican-controlled Congress pass in 1875?

Answer 40

a Civil Rights Act

Question 41

what did the 1875 Civil Rights Act do?

Answer 41

aimed to prevent discrimination in public places such as hotels, railroads and theatres

Question 42

how successful was the 1875 CR Act?

Answer 42

unsuccessful - not effective in the South as enforcement down to black litigants. Ruled unconstitutional in 1883 by the SC - said civil rights within a state were down to the state gov

Question 43

what was the significance of the SC ruling the 1875 CR Act unconstitutional?

Answer 43

showed the triumph of white backlash