Notes CH 22 Part 2
******NORTHERN CONGRESSIONAL RESPONSE to the Black Codes- “IF
THE FORMER SLAVES WERE BEING REENSLAVED…HAD NOT THE “BOYS IN BLUE” SPILLED THEIR
BLOOD IN VAIN? WHO HAD REALLY “WON” THE WAR? WHEN CONGRESS COMES BACK IN
SESSION IN DECEMBER OF 1865, JOHNSON ANNOUNCES ALL OF THE
SOUTHERN STATES HAD BEEN RECONSTRUCTED AND HAD RE-ENTERED THE
UNION…NORTHERN LEGISLATORS FOUND UPON THEIR RETURN THAT FORMER CONFEDERATE
LEADERS, VP ALEXANDER STEPHENS FOR EX… HAD BEEN ELECTED AND EXPECTED TO RETURN THEY
WERE VERY UPSET AND DECIDED THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS…Johnson did not
care…he underestimated the Congressional Republicans, now even the MODERATES, were upset… and
this does not bode well for Johnson or the South who by their hubris had not considered the
consequences of their actions…BUT THEY WILL SOON.
Congressional Reconstruction [military reconstruction & civil
rights act of 1866>14th Amendment
December 1865 Congress returns into session… and what they find upsets them greatly…shock and
disgust will motivate them to change what Andrew Johnson had allowed…
Many former Confederate Leaders were elected in the South and expected to just continue where they
left off… 4 former CSA Generals, 5 Colonels, and various members of the CSA Cabinet and Congress, even
the VP – Alexander Stephens (Cornerstone Speech) who was still on trial for TREASON.
THE WAR HAD BEEN FOUGHT TO RESTORE THE UNION…..BUT NOT ON THESE TERMS… Republicans in
Congress from 1861 -1865 had not had to deal with these Southern Congressmen and their issues…and
enjoyed being able to pass whatever laws they wished… MORRILL TARIFF, PACIFIC RAILROAD ACT,
HOMESTEAD ACT [all three important***]
CONGRESS ACTS AGAINST JOHNSON’S CLAIM THAT RECONSTRUCTION
WAS OVER******
The Republicans (congress controls who can be members) DENY
all of the Southern States Congressmen from joining the NEW
CONGRESSIONAL SESSION.******AND TAKING THEIR SEATS IN
CONGRESS
**************HUGE*****************---If--- the restored Southern
legislators were allowed to regain their seats…THEY WOULD BE VERY POWERFUL…STRONGER THAN
BEFORE THE WAR….BEFORE THE WAR A BLACK SLAVE COUNTED AS 3/5THS OF A PERSON IN
APPORTIONING CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION….NOW AFTER THE WAR BLACK PEOPLE WERE
COUNTED AS A WHOLE PERSON…AND THE
NORTH WOULD LOSE 12 SEATS IN
CONGRESS AND THE SOUTH WOULD GAIN 12 SEATS IN CONGRESS
…..AS WELL AS THE CORRESPONDING GAIN IN ELECTORAL COLLEGE
VOTES THAT ELECT THE PRESIDENT******************* Northern legislators
asked again, Who won the war ?
If the Southern Democratic Congressmen join together with Northern Democrats they could control
congress and even the presidency again…legalize the Black Codes virtually re-enslaving he newly Freed
People…they could remake the economic agenda of the Country, etc…. AND WHEN JOHNSON DECLARES
ON DECEMBER 6, 1865 THAT ALL REBELLIOUS STATES HAD BEEN RECONSTRUCTED CONGRESS
DECIDES TO ACT….IT IS NOT PRETTY FOR JOHNSON AND THE SOUTH.
JOHNSON CLASHES WITH CONGRESS
A clash between Johnson and Congress was now inevitable… in Feb. of 1866 it explodes…when AJ vetoes
a bill to continue the Freedmen’s Bureau.
In response to AJ’s Veto the Republicans in Congress pass the
******* CIVIL RIGHTS
BILL OF 1866 (the most powerful civil rights act EVER passed by congress, even stronger than
the one passed in 1964) [maybe… the most significant act EVER passed by congress]****Johnson vetoes
this bill as well…THIS EVENTUALLY BECOMES THE 14TH AMENDMENT****
CONGRESS IN REPSONSE TO AJ’S VETO OF THE CRB 1866, *****PASSES THE BILL OVER HIS
VETO****something they do repeatedly from this point on…*****CONGRESS AT THIS POINT
TAKES ON THE DOMINANT ROLE IN RUNNING THE GOVT AND THUS
RUNNING RECONSTRUCTION.
CONGRESS UNDERSTANDING THAT ANY ACT CAN BE REPEALED LATER…MAKES SURE TO RIVET
THE IDEAS IN THE CRB 1866…INTO THE CONSTITUTION PERMANANTLY….WITH THE 14TH
AMENDMENT**********
******The 14th amendment is the MOST IMPORTANT
AMENDMENT IN OUR CONSTITUTION, according to most
historians and Constitutional scholars****KNOW THE
DETAILS***
Section 1
****a– Citizenship Clause - citizenship is defined for the 1st time in American History. {overturning
Dred Scott, 1857)
-“All persons BORN or naturalized IN THE UNITED STATES, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, ARE
CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE STATE wherein they reside. (WE WILL SEE THIS
CHALLENGED LATER---IN THE CASE OF US V. WON KIM ARK***
****b-Privileges and Immunities Clause.
- No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge [restrict] the privileges and immunities of
CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES. [a limitation on state power applying the Bill of Rights to
the States for the 1st time]
****c-Due Process Clause [also applying the BILL OF RIGHTS to the states] enhances the 5th
Amendment..
- the clause provides four (4) protections…in civil and criminal proceedings, protection against
majoritarian policies passed by govt, protection against vague laws, and to incorporate the Bill of Rights
protections for citizens against the power of the state govt’s.
****d- EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE***HUGE EVEN TODAY****
- No State shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction “the equal protection of the laws.”
Section 2-
-Representation in Congress shall be apportioned among the several States according [to population]
BUT WHEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN ANY ELECTION, NATIONAL OR STATE, IS DENIED TO ANY MALE
[CITIZENS] OF SUCH STATE, BEING 21 YEARS OF AGE, OR IN ANY WAY ABRIDGED [RESTRICTED] the
representation from such a state WILL BE REDUCED IN THE PORPORTION THAT IS AFFECTED BY THE
RESTRICTIONS. ******Note: this is the ONLY place in the CONSTITUTION that
GENDER is prescribed…and is the ONLY place that suggests that MEN only can
vote…the 15th amendment to come later is assumed to mean Black Men can
vote BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY REFERENCE TO GENDER WHATSOEVER.
Section 3
- No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector in Electoral College, or hold any
office, civil or military, under the United States, or any State……WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD TAKEN AN OATH
TO SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND SHALL ENGAGED IN INSURRECTION
OR REBELLION AGAINST THE USA, OR GIVEN AID OR COMFORT TO THE ENEMIES OF THE USA.
Section 4
- The USA nor any State shall assume or pay any debt incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion
against the USA, nor pay ANY CLAIM FOR THE LOSS OR EMANCIPATION OF ANY SLAVE…
Section 5
THE CONGRESS SHALL HAVE POWER TO ENFORCE, BY APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION, THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS ARTICLE. AGAIN “giving” power to the Federal Gov’t which is very different from the first 12
amendments***
****************All Republicans in Congress agreed that NO STATE shall be welcomed back into the
Union WITHOUT 1ST RATIFYING THE 14TH AMENDMENT.
***************Johnson advised Southern States to REJECT the 14th Amendment…the south replies,
“I won’t be reconstructed and I don’t give a damn.”
Johnson will lose this fight…
Swinging “Round the Circle” with Johnson
A battle grew between Congress and Johnson…the root of the controversy was the Black Codes passed by
the Johnson Reconstructed States…Congress had attempted to lessen the effects of these codes by
extending the Freedmen’s Bureau (over AJ’s veto) and passing the Civil Rights Bill (over AJ’s Veto).
THE FIGHT NOW WAS OVER THE 14TH AMENDMENT…would it be ratified by the required ¾ of the
States….
-The Congressional Elections of 1866 become crucial…If Johnson by speaking around the
country against the 14th Amendment could influence the people to elect those similarly disposed as he
was to oppose the 14th Amendment he could prevent the Amendment from becoming law….If not, he was
finished….
-Beginning in the late summer of 1866, The President delivered a series of “give em hell” speeches
….racist and horrible in their tone…he attempted to arouse the White Supremacists throughout the USA…
HE FAILS MISERABLY…. AND THE REPUBLICANS ROLL UP MORE THAN A 2/3ds MAJORITY OF
CONGRESS.
-THIS DOOMS JOHNSON…IMPEACHMENT IS COMING…AND CONGRESS WILL PASS THE SWEEPING
MILITARY RECONSTRUCTION ACT…..WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN “OASIS OF FREEDOM,” FOR FREED
PEOPLE THAT IS TEMPORARY AND BRINGS CONFLICT WITH GROUPS SUCH AS THE KKK IN THE
SOUTH….
MILITARY RECONSTRUCTION********
****An Act to Provide for the More Efficient Government of the Rebel States,
March, 2, 1867 – passed over AJ’s Veto…TERMINATED PRESIDENTIAL RECONSTRUCTION AND
BEGAN COGRESSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION (military reconstruction). This law was supplemented by
three later acts and fundamentally altered the status of the Southern states by providing that the
unreconstructed states be grouped into five military districts each commanded by a Union
General who was ordered to maintain peace, protect personal and property rights, and to use
troops and military tribunals as necessary. Existing State governments be provisional in nature (just
had created new constitutions in 1865) and subject to modification or abolishment by the authority of
the United States. (Gen. Dan Sickles was the General who commanded the two Carolinas, initially) The
Military Commander in each of the five districts had TOTAL AUTHORITY over all social, economic,
legal, and political activities in their districts.
Republican Principles and Programs
According to the passage above we know that after Johnson’s disastrous “swing round the circle,” and
subsequent Republican’s gain of a Veto Proof majority of Congress in 1866…that the nature of
Reconstruction which in the initial couple years after the Civil War was seemingly controlled by AJ and
former Confederate Leaders…NOW …The Republicans in Congress were firmly in control…
BUT did the Republicans have a plan THEY ALL AGREED ON…nope. REP’s were split between
MODERATES AND RADICALS. In reality, neither had a plan…BUT they would pass a series of compromise
measures…that dramatically changed History.
The RADICALS were led by Sumner and Stevens, in the Senate and House, Sumner you should recognize
from the beating he took from Preston Brooks years ago-he was healthy and back for vengeance, Stevens
was a curious figure from Pennsylvania (played by Tommy Lee Jones in the “Lincoln” movie) who had a
black housekeeper (secret wife) and was buried in a black cemetery, both of these men had been
ABOLITIONISTS FOR DECADES AND WANTED TO PUNISH THE SOUTH, AND BOTH WERE BRILLIANT.
THEY WANTED TO BRING ABOUT A DRASTIC SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION OF THE SOUTH.
The Moderates, still wanted the southern states to govern themselves with provisions that would protect
the gains made for freedmen but were not willing to “take over the responsibility for governing the
south”…they believed this would take too many resources and would be a violation of he
constitution…BUT BOTH AGREED ON BY 1867 THE NECESSITY TO ENFRANCHISE (VOTE) THE BLACK
MEN…so they COULD PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS…and they both hoped it would not take too much Federal
power to do so….as time wore on…it would…take another war to really bring about the changes they
desired…but were not willing to do so… however many changes where made and ultimately
reconstruction was just the beginning of a one hundred year struggle over blacks gaining full citizenship
in America… FOR A SHORT PERIOD HOWEVER MILITARY (CONGRESSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION, 1867 ACT)
BROUGHT AN OASIS OF FREEDOM AND THE CHANCE FOR FREED PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE A SHORT LIVED
FULL LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY –ALBEIT…. PROTECTED BY UNION SOLDIERS.
RECONSTRUCTION BY THE SWORD
The “Reconstruction Act(s) (formal name begins the notes) of 1867 is passed in March of 1867…and
supplemented by three more acts… (explained at the beginning) this act divided the South into 5 Military
Districts, each commanded by a Union General and Policed by Union Soldiers [20,000] AND
DISENFRANCHISED [TOOK AWAY THE VOTED OF] TENS OF THOUSANDS FORMER
CONFEDERATES.[Tennessee already reconstructed] Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and Arkansas were all ruled by the Union Army
temporarily….
Readmission of the Southern states according to the above act(s) – they had to meet in special convention
to redraft their state constitutions (done before in 1865-under AJ’s plan…they had to re-write new ones)
in these Constitutions they HAD TO PROVIDE FOR THE ENFRANCHISEMENT OF ALL MEN OVER 21
YEARS OF AGE REGARDLESS OF RACE who had lived in their states for 1 year. They had to RATIFY THE
14TH AMENDMENT…
Concerned that they Southern states would just change their constitutions again…after
readmission..CONGRESS PASSES THE 15th AMENDMENT, which states: “The right to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of
servitude,” “Congress shall have the POWER TO ENFORCE THIS LEGISLATION.”
By 1870 all Southern States had reorganized their governments [under Republicans-who were dominant
for this short period…with blacks being central in their new role as voters] These “Radical Regimes” were
protected by Union Troops….This SHORT PERIOD IS THE “OASIS” OF FREEDOM PERIOD FOR BLACKS IN
THE SOUTH – the voted, created “Union Leagues,” to help educate freed people on their rights, attempted
to create black businesses, and to organize them into effective machines that due to in many areas of the
South where they were the majority [esp. SC and Miss] for the first time began to elect black government
officials from the US Senate to local sheriff’s….
THIS OBVIOUSLY UPSET MANY WHITE SUPREMACISTS…who began to plan to END THIS AND RETAKE
CONTROL ASAP….BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY- MASS MURDER, VIOLENCE, LYNCHING…IT DID NOT
MATTER….This is where we see the beginning of what is called the “MISSISSIPPI PLAN”…a crafty plan to
incorporate the control of the MEDIA, DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PARAMILITARY TERRORISM (KKK, White
Citizens Councils, Red Shirts-the democratic parties military arm to intimidate whites and blacks who
worked together for bi-racial democracy in each southern state) – This “plan” is so successful…that is it is
repeated in each state…and as soon as FEDERAL TROOPS left a state…THESE “REDEEMERS” RETOOK
POWER BY FORCE AND CREATED WHITE SUPREMACIST HERRENVOLK DEMOCRACIES…..Finally, by
1877, due to a compromise by Republicans and Democrats due to the irregularities that led to
CONTROVERSIAL ELECTION RESULTS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1876…which allowed the
Republican, Rutherford B. Hayes to be President…in return he promised and did REMOVE ALL UNION
TROOPS FROM THE SOUTH. THIS ENDS RECONSTRUCTION…THIS ENDS PROTECTION OF BLACKS….AND
BEGINS THE ERA OF DEJURE AND DEFACTO SEGREGATION, CALLED “JIM CROW,” WHICH LASTS OVER
100 YEARS IN THE SOUTH….THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONTROLS THE SOUTH DURING THIS PERIOD
WITH AN IRON HAND…IT IS CALLED THE “SOLID SOUTH.”
Note: US Grant wins two elections during the period described above, 1867 -1877,[this period will be
discussed in more detail later by the text] in 1868 and in 1872….the eight years of Grant’s presidency
were very turbulent…with race violence in the South, Indian Wars in the West, and a huge economic
depression beginning in 1873… combined with the Corruption Scandals that plagued Grant and which
occurred in many “radical governments” in the South…these issues also help to form a group that
included the Elite Northern Industrialists and Elite Southern Planter each believing that too much
democracy was not good….too many corrupt Immigrants in the North controlled the politics of the rising
cities, machine politics, and the blacks in the South, with corrupt white republicans controlled the
politics of the south, THEY NI AND SP COMBINE TO TAKE CONTROL IN THE NAME OF “REFORM” AND
SCIENTIFIC RACISM…”White Man’s Burden,” “Social Darwinism,” “Survival of the Fittest,” The
Monopolists and Planter Aristocracy team up to rid the nation of “Corruption and the influence of the
poor and uneducated in our Government.” This begins the real “GILDED AGE”…where $$$ begins to
dominate politics…and NATURE –Genetics- is seen to determine the fate of all.
No Women Voters
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, THE RECONSTRUCTION AMENDMENTS,
delighted former abolitionists….BUT DEEPLY OFFENDED ADVOCATES OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS….
Women had worked very hard, hand in hand, to end Slavery… FEMINIST LEADERS BELIEVED THEIR
TIME HAD COME….
BUT…the wording of the 14th Amendment, which defined Voting for the 1st time on a national
basis…included this definition….MALE, OVER 21 YEARS OF AGE.
SHOCK-ANGER…Many Feminist Leaders, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony,
campaigned secretly…AGAINST THE PASSAGE OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT…due to its obvious flaw.
Anthony and Stanton worked to include SEX in the 15th amendments list…BUT FAIL. IT WOULD TAKE 50
YEARS…and even then it was a BATTLE…and very close…for Women to earn the right to vote.
The Realities of Radical Reconstruction in the South
Problem (for powerful white racist planter democrats ): thousands of Black Men have the vote in the
South…and thousands of former confederates were disenfranchised. Who would rule the South during
“Radical Congressional Military Reconstruction?”
The primary organization that was created by Blacks for Blacks politically was the UNION LEAGUE.
The Union League built schools, churches, campaigned for Republicans, fought black employee grievances
in court, and recruited militia’s to protect black communities from white violence.
The Union League was assisted by Northern Blacks, Northern whites (Carpetbaggers), and Southern
white unionists (Scalawags) this Triumvirate….controlled reconstruction politics as Republicans…for a
few years…and were very influential in US GRANT’s two presidential victories..in 1868 and 1872.
REMEMBER THE SOUTH GAINS ELECTORAL VOTES AND CONGRESSMEN DUE TO BLACKS NOW BEING
COUNTED AS A WHOLE PERSON AND NOT 3/5THS OF A PERSON….the Republicans HAD TO CONTROL THE
SOUTH POLITICALLY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE NATION POLITICALLY…
Black Women took on new roles faithfully working behind the scenes in communities to rally support
for Union League candidates…and helped to organize the New Black Churches that were created during
this period (BEDROCK OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY) They were keen observers of all events and wielded
considerable power outside the normal political channels (voting).
Black Men gained POWER immediately due to their VOTE…(protected by Union Troops) they
participated in Constitutional Conventions in each Southern State…They worked with Whites, (scalawags
and carpetbaggers…and even some conservative democratic redeemers, albeit temporarily.
14 Black Congressmen entered the House of Representatives of the United States and 2 Black Men
became US Senators [Hiram Revels and Blanche K. Bruce, both from Mississippi] Blacks served in State
Governments as lt. Gov’s, Mayors, Sheriffs, and Judges…
The Black Men, Scalawags, and Carpetbaggers…dominated Southern Politics during Radical
Reconstruction…this caused many former confederates to begin to plan a violent response…
How well did these Radical Governments in the South rule?
For the 1st time Southern States began to fund Public Schools…Public Works were begun to repair the
damage done during the war…property rights were guaranteed to women for the 1st time…many states
passed much needed legislation which gave municipalities direct political control for the 1st time…Tax
systems were streamlined and made efficient…many welcome changes occur…. NOW …FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF THE WHITE PLANTER CLASS WHO OWN MOST OF THE TAXABLE PROPERTY STILL IN
THESE STATES…it was CORRUPT….(they were finally not in control for the 1st time EVER…and were
forced to pay fair property taxes for the 1st time to financially support the many changes) Some
Corruption occurred…no different than any other time in the past…HOWEVER…THE PLANTER
ARISTOCRACY FOR THE 1ST TIME WAS NOT THE GROUP BENEFITTING FROM THE CORRUPT “OLD BOY
SYSTEM,” it was Blacks, Scalawags, and Carpetbaggers…AND THIS REALLY MADE THEM MAD… 
THE KKK – “Red Shirts”, “White Leagues”, “Rifle Clubs”
- some Southern Whites resorted to savage measures (violence) against “radical rule.” They resented the
success and ability of blacks during this “oasis” (protected by Union Troops) of Freedom for their former
slaves…and alleged Corruption (and having to pay their fair share of property taxes for the 1st time to
support public schools and rebuilding the destroyed South).
- A NUMBER OF SECRET ORGANIZATIONS WERE CREATED…the most notorious was, “THE INVISIBLE
EMPIRE OF THE SOUTH,” KKK. Founded in Tennessee in 1866.
_ Their targets were White Republicans (Scalawags-from the South, Carpetbaggers-from the North) AND
FREEDMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES who DARED TO VOTE AND BECOME PUBLICY ACTIVE IN FIGHTING
FOR THEIR NEW CIVIL RIGHTS.
-THEY WERE FLOGGED, MUTILATED, AND MURDERED, BURNED OUT, LYNCHED….ETC..
********FOR SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF THIS SEE “RECONSTRUCTION VIOLENCE” POSTED ON THE
SITE***** MUST READ THESE and the NAST PC’s from this period which are also posted on the
website*****
CONGRESS in 1870 and 1871 held Congressional hearings and from this testimony (shocking ) PASSED
THE FORCE ACTS OF 1870 AND 1871.
President Grant reacts to these acts of violence by sending more Union troops into the South…and in
some cases can limit the damage…HOWEVER AS TIME GOES ON…this begins to wear on the North…ARE
THEY GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER WAR TO GUARANTEE THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF
FREEDMEN….AND IF SO DO THEY HAVE THE WILL – STOMACH TO DO SO? Many in the North question
how long this will last and the SOUTHERN NEWSPAPERS, controlled by the Planter Aristocrats-Bourbon
Democrats DENOUNCE THE VIOLENCE AND CALL FOR BLACKS TO STOP THE RIOTING RAPE OF WHITE
WOMEN AND LOOTING….?????
White resistance to the Radical Congressional Military Reconstruction and the “oasis” of freedom created
by these Acts of Congress…undermined attempts to empower the blacks politically, economically, and
socially. VIOLENCE WAS A SUCCESSFUL TACTIC… AND THEREFORE REPEATED OFTEN….AND IS
CALLED “THE MISSISSIPPI PLAN,” this put into question for many northerners HOW FAR IS THE US
GOVT WILLING TO GO…AND SOME BEGAN TO TIRE…OF THIS BLOODSHED…ISN’T FREEDOM
ENOUGH…LET BLACKS DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS THEMSELVES… WHY DO THEY DESERVE “SPECIAL
PROTECTION AND AID ($$$) ?
-AS STATES ARE “REDEEMED” (brought under white democratic party control) they OPENLY DEFY THE
14TH AND 15TH AMENDMENTS…AND WHOLESALE DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF BLACKS WAS ACHIEVED
BY VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION, FRAUD, AND TRICKERY… and laws are eventually passed to limit black
voting…such as LITERACY TESTS, GRANDFATHER CLAUSES AND POLL TAXES***************which
allows the “REDEEMED” white democratic party governments to accomplish their goal of the MASTER
RACE DEMOCRACY…Herrenvolk…and to them JUSTIFIED ANY ACTION. “JIM CROW” IS FIRMLY
ESTABLISHED IN THE “SOLID DEMOCRATIC SOUTH” for 100 years.
Johnson Walks the Impeachment Plank – A NOT-GUILTY VERDICT FOR JOHNSON
Note: only two (2) Presidents in our history have been impeached, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton.
Impeach means to “accuse.” In the House of Representatives a vote is taken after examining evidence to
determine if the President has committed “high crimes and misdemeanors.” If the HOR believe so then
they “impeach” the President ….this means that AT THIS POINT THERE WILL BE A TRIAL IN THE
SENATE… and a vote after each side presents their evidence… The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is
the JUDGE…and the Senate is the JURY. The Senate then votes….if 2/3rd of the Senate find the accused
guilty…then the accused (President) is REMOVED FROM OFFICE…IF the vote is less than 2/3 rds…the
President stays in office and continues to lead the country…albeit from a weakened position usually.
Johnson stays in office…BY 1 VOTE. BILL CLINTON STAYS IN OFFICE AS WELL, THE VOTE WAS SPLIT
50-50. (100 Senators)
-Radical Republicans in Congress were angry with Johnson’s actions regarding reconstruction… and In
1867 pass the Tenure of Office Act…over AJ’s veto… this law required the President to secure the consent
of the Senate before removing his appointees to executive branch jobs that had required Senate
confirmation….(Secretary of War for example) ….[this act was of dubious constitutionality in truth]
Congress did not want AJ to fire Sec. of War Edwin Stanton, he was a spy in the presidents cabinet for the
radicals…. Johnson plays into their hands when in 1868 he fires Stanton….The House immediately voted
126 -47 to IMPEACH JOHNSON…FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS…
-BY A MARGIN OF 1 VOTE…JOHNSON SURVIVES …BUT…. IS GREATLY DIMINISHED IN POWER… it is
claimed he made a deal to avoid be removed…promising to stop obstructing Radical Republican policies
in return for remaining in office.
The Purchase of Alaska
In 1867, Secretary of State, William Seward, signed a treaty with Russia…that transferred Alaska to the
USA for 7.2 Million$$$.
-initially this was a joke to many….”Figidia,” Seward’s folly,” Seward’s Icebox, Walrussia….Congress
reluctantly agreed to purchase, “Seward’s Polar Bear Garden.”
The Heritage of Reconstruction
Note: Remember that R began in a limited way in 1863 during the War under Lincoln, progressed after
the War’s end with Johnson his impeachment and battles with Congress, and then Congress gaining
control around 1867 with Military Reconstruction Acts which are administered under U.S. Grant’s two
terms from 1869 – 1877, and ends with the Compromise of 1877 which decided the winner of the
controversial Presidential Election of 1876.
Many white Southerners regarded Reconstruction as a more grievous wound than the Civil War. They
resented the upending of their social and racial system, political empowerment of blacks, and the
MASSIVE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT intervention in their affairs.
The many events of Reconstruction left scars for everyone involved.
YET…few rebellions end with a joyous end.
Fact: There was never a consensus BY REPUBLICANS for what they wanted the South to become after the
War… and clearly what policies should be implemented…THE GOAL OF A BI-RACIAL DEMOCRACY…was
unrealistic at best….EVEN IN THE NORTH.
The policies implemented, often through compromise between the moderate and radical Republicans,
was shaped by a number of groups; blacks, white southerners, presidents, congress, northern voters, and
the media… Reconstruction EVOLVED…as did Black Freedom…
Republicans had two goals…depending on the perspective of the individual one may have been more
important than the other BUT CERTAINLY TIED TOGETHER… 1-Republican Party strength to control the
government and to do this control the South which now had increased power due to blacks being counted
as a whole person for representation instead of 3/5ths…2- To Protect the newly Freed People.
How do we judge the success or failure of Reconstruction?
This is a difficult question. For sure there were many successes that eventually leads to improved lives
for the blacks NORTH AND SOUTH…. BUT the failures are surely great as well, The Blacks only had
fleeting benefits in the South…and at great cost, and the Republican Party is eventually extinguished in
the South for over 100 yrs.
What causes the failure to create this Bi-Racial democracy?
Racism – Evolution – Scientific Racism- “Survival of the Fittest” – explosion of immigration
Economics – Depression of 1873- growth of monopolism
Loyalty to the principal of Self-Government
Indifference in the North/Lack of Will to fight another War
In the end…we have innumerable unanswered questions…Today many of these questions still are
asked…and the answers are not always pretty to anyone.
What does the United States of America stand for? How do we define Liberty? How should we define
Citizenship? What rights should all Citizens have? What role do these questions have in how we interact
with the World?
The attempts to answer the questions above will evolve as well as we continue to study…just as they do
today.
Varying Viewpoints***** READ***
People today are still deeply divided over many of the same questions brought up during Reconstruction.
At the Turn of the Century, Historian William Dunning, of Columbia University, and his students, wrote a
series on the history of reconstruction…. They, THE DUNNING SCHOOL, were influenced by the spirit of
reconciliation….as well as the turn of the century scientific theories which upheld the racial inferiority of all
races not white. THEY JUDGE RECONSTRUCTION AS A MASSIVE FAILURE …and place BLAME ON THE
NORTH FOR ATTEMPTING TO CREATE A FAILED BI-RACIAL DEMOCRACY.
In the 1920’s, the scholarship judged the Civil War a tragic and unnecessary blunder. Historian Howard
Beale blamed Northern politicians GREED…to exploit the South… and judged the Bi-racial democracy as just
an attempt by Republicans to control the US Government. The violent response of the South was a JUST WAR
to uphold Constitutional Principles.
After WWII, Historian Kenneth Stampp, and many others, influenced by the fight against Nazism and the
beginnings of the Modern Civil Rights Movement argued that Reconstruction had been A NOBLE ATTEMPT
TO EXTEND THE AMERICAN PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND JUSTICE. The Radical Republicans and
Carpetbaggers were NOW HEROES, wheras Johnson and the white south were the villians.
By the 1970’s the view above had become ORTHODOXY…and it generally holds true today.
More Recently, Historian Eric Foner, has powerfully reasserted the argument that Reconstruction was a
TRULY RADICAL AND NOBLE ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH A BI-RACIAL DEMOCRACY. He drew upon the work
of turn of the century black historian and freedom fighter, W.E.B. DuBois (founder of the NAACP with others
in the early 20th century) FONER: Reconstruction did not create full equality, BUT it DID ALLOW BLACKS TO
FORM POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES, TO VOTE (temporarily depending on location, longer
and shorter), and to establish SOME MEASURE OF ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE.
THIS “COMPARATIVE VIEW” when judged by the same movements in the Caribbean, South Africa, and other
areas…was hugely more successful…and in many places, blacks NEVER HAD EVEN THESE GAINS.
And by the later 20th century, Reconstruction Amendments (13,14,15) allow for the success of the Modern
Civil Rights movement- WHICH SOME CALL THE SECOND RECONSTRUCTION.