ACT II: Congress
finds
out
Act II: Congress
Johnson’s
johnson’sfinds
a out
racist
a racist.
Vice President Andrew Johnson
• Andrew Johnson was…
– A Southerner who had owned slaves.
– Loyal to the North, but with
Southern sympathies.
– Chosen as Lincoln’s VP to show
unity between the North and South.
• But then Lincoln gets
assassinated.
• Johnson becomes President.
Johnson as President
Johnson made the South… On the other hand, he…
• Declare secession illegal
• Promoted states’ rights,
allowing states to restrict
• Swear loyalty to the Union
Blacks’ rights
• Ratify 13th amendment
• Pardoned LOTS of
– IL was 1st state to ratify! 
Confederates, so they could
– MS finally did in 1995!
be in charge.
“This is a country for white men,
and by God, as long as I am
President, it shall be a
government for white men.”
-Andrew Johnson, in a letter to the
Governor of Missouri
Luckily for society, Congress
was in favor of equality.
(Well, most of them were.)
ACT II: Congress finds out
johnson’s a [a man who
feels whites are
superior]
I learned so
much! I can
explain why
Andrew Johnson
was selected as
Vice President
and how he
came to be
President.
Yeah? Well, I
can describe the
ways in which
Andrew Johnson
hindered
Reconstruction
efforts.
Roses are red,
ACT III: Congress
fights
Violets are blue.
makes laws,
for civilAndCongress
rights
Johnson vetoes them.
Boo. 
Radical Republicans
• Wanted Blacks to have
equal rights.
– 13th Amendment isn’t
enough to fix society.
• In 1866, this group wins a
large majority in Congress.
– North starts favoring civil
rights.
– States in the South aren’t
represented yet.
• Large enough majority to
override vetoes…
Totally
radical!
Benjamin Wade
• Acting Vice President
– Next in line for President
after Johnson.
• Felt strongly in favor of
equal rights.
• Seen as extreme by some
members of Congress.
40 Acres & Mule
Turn to someone near you and
discuss the long-term impact of
the “40 Acres and a Mule”
promise being broken
But I can’t
even have a
baby!
Lyman Trumbull
• U.S. Senator from Illinois. 
• Helped write/create:
– 13th amendment: Abolished
slavery
– Freedman’s Bureau: Educated
former slaves
– Civil Rights Act of 1866: First
ever civil rights law!
– 14th amendment: Citizenship
rights
Freedman’s Bureau
• Created by Congress
– Provided food, clothing, education for both
former slaves and poor whites in the South.
– Main focus was education!
• Congress votes to continue it…
– Johnson vetoes it…
• Congress overrides his veto.
Civil Rights Act of 1866
• First civil rights law in our history! 
• Gave citizenship and equal rights.
– “as is enjoyed by white citizens”
• Outlawed segregation and discrimination.
• Punished people who went against this
law.
Sit down, I
can’t see the
• Congress passes it…
Woo Hoo!
Sorry…
– Johnson vetoes it…
• Congress overrides his veto.
show!!!
Go Congress!
Congress Gives Citizenship
• Congress passed the 14th amendment
giving all people born in the US
citizenship.
– Pres. Johnson discouraged ratification.
Congress required states to
ratify 14th amendment in order
to become a state again.
Johnson vetoed it; Congress
overrode the veto.
ACT II: Congress finds out
johnson’s a [a man who
feels whites are
superior]
That’s nothing! I
can explain the
circumstances
Well,
Hey, II can
can
I can
assess
that
led tothe
summarize
assess thethe
impact of
the
Congress
having
political
impactviews
of
th theof
a 14
large
Civil
theRights
Radical
Act
Amendment.
Republican
Republicans.
of 1866.
majority in the
1866 election.
Show
How’soff.
this-I can
I
can
describe
assessthe
the
I can assess the
ways
long-term
in which
impact of the
Lyman
impact
Good popcorn.
of
Trumbull
the “40
Freedman’s
Acres
aided
and a
Bureau.
Reconstruction
Mule” promise
being
efforts.
broken.