RADICAL
RECONSTRUCTION
APUSH – Spiconardi
The Fourteenth Amendment



Prohibits states from
abridging “privileges” and
“immunities” of citizens
Guarantees “equal
protection under the law”
Gave congress the power
to reduce congressional
representation to any state
that denied any group of
men to vote
The Fifteenth Amendment

Federal and state
governments could not
deny any citizen the
right to vote on the
basis of race
Prior to this
amendment, only eight
northern states allowed
black males to vote
 American Anti-Slavery
Society disbands after
amendments
ratification

Who is going to take umbrage with the
way in which the amendment is written?
Changing Views on Government


Most Americans had
believed from the adoption
of the Bill of Rights that the
federal government posed
a threat to civil liberties
After the Reconstruction
Amendments, the federal
government provided and
protected civil liberties

The Constitution went
beyond protecting property
rights
[The federal
government has
become] the
custodian of
freedom
Impeachment


Johnson vetoed Congress’
Reconstruction Act, but is overridden
by Congress
To limit Johnson’s influence over
Reconstruction, Congress passes the
Tenure of Office Act



Tenure of Office Act  The president
cannot remove certain office holders
(e.g. cabinet members) without the
approval of Congress
Johnson defies the act and removes
his Secretary of War
Johnson is impeached, but not
convicted
Election of 1868
Black Freedom


Blacks took part in
political meetings
and grassroots
gatherings
Blacks ran for
political office
Black Freedom

Black Officeholders
 Roughly
2,000 blacks held
public office during
Reconstruction
 Fourteen congressional
representatives
 Two black senators (both
from Mississippi)
 Only
four others have been
elected since 1875

Blacks served on juries
Black Freedom

Public Schools
 Most
schools
segregated (Only in
New Orleans were
schools integrated
during Reconstruction)

The South’s old
leaders would soon
not stand for black
freedom