Chapter 17 Reconstruction and
the New South (1865-1896)
Section 2 Radicals in Control
Rate your agreement with the following
statement: The system of checks and
balances prevents any branch of
government from having too much power.
0%
0%
0%
D
D. Strongly disagree
0%
C
C. Somewhat disagree
A
B
C
D
B
B. Somewhat agree
A.
B.
C.
D.
A
A. Strongly agree
What were the results of Radical
Reconstruction?
African Americans’ Rights
• Some whites tried to
terrorize African
Americans (Burning
churches and homes)
• Many events happened
like this and convinced
Radical Republicans that
President Johnson’s
Reconstruction plan was
not strong enough
• Fall 1865- Southern states
created new governments
based on Johnson’s plan
• Also elected new
representatives to
Congress
• When the representatives
arrived in Washington,
D.C., Congress refused to
seat them
Black Codes
• Early 1866- Southern
states passes black
codes
• Laws to control freed men
and women
• Allowed plantation owners
to exploit African American
workers
• Also allowed officials to
arrest and fine jobless
African Americans
• Banned African Americans
from owning or renting
farms
• To many, the black codes
resembled slavery
Freedmen’s Bureau
• Early 1866- Congress
passed a bill giving the
Freedmen’s Bureau new
powers
• The Bureau could set up
courts and try people
charged with violating the
rights of African Americans
• African Americans could
serve on juries in these
courts
• Congress passed the Civil
Rights Act of 1866Granted full citizenship to
African Americans
• The federal government
could also intervene in
state affairs to protect their
rights
• Also overturned the black
codes
• Also contradicted the 1857
Dred Scott decision
The Two Bills
• Johnson vetoed both
• Johnson argued that both the
Freedmen’s Bureau bill and the
Civil Rights Act were
unconstitutional
• Because they were approved by a
Congress that did not include
representatives from all the states
• Republicans in Congress had
enough votes to override both
vetoes and the bills became law
• Congress and the President were
not working together
• Radical Republicans abandoned
the idea of compromise and
drafted their own Reconstruction
plan
The 14th Amendment
• Fearing the Civil Rights
Act might be overturned
in court, Congress
passed the 14th
Amendment in 1866
(enacted in 1868)
• Granted full citizenship to
all born in the United
States
• Most African Americans
became full citizens
• Gave all rights to African
Americans
• Life, liberty, and property
• Every citizen was entitled
to “equal protection of
the laws”
14th Amendment Continued
• If a state prevented any adult
male citizen from voting, then it
could lose representation in
Congress
• The amendment also barred
former Confederate leaders
from holding office (unless
pardoned by Congress)
• The 14th Amendment excluded
Native Americans
• Southern states had to ratify the
amendment to rejoin the Union
• Of the 11 Southern states, only
Tennessee ratified it
• It did not take effect until 1868
Republican Victory
• Congressional
elections of 1866
• President Johnson
campaigned against
Radical Republicans
• Many Northerners
objected to the nasty
tone of Johnson’s
campaign
• Also feared clashes
between whites and
African Americans
• The Republicans won
a solid victory, and
took Reconstruction
into their own hands
Reconstruction Acts of 1867
• Johnson had no power
(overrides)
• Congress passed the First
Reconstruction Act and the
Second Reconstruction Act
• The 10 Southern states that
didn’t ratify the 14th Amendment
had new governments created
• The 10 states were divided into
5 military districts , each run by
a military commander
• African American men were
guaranteed the right to vote
• Also banned former
Confederate leaders from
holding public office
• To rejoin the Union, the states
had to ratify the 14th
Amendment and submit new
state constitutions to Congress
for approval
• Military commanders prepared
state constitutional conventions
Readmitting the States
• Many white Southerners
refused to vote
• 1000s of newly
registered African
American voters voted
• Republicans gained
control of Southern state
governments
• By 1868- 7 states were
readmitted (Alabama,
Arkansas, Florida,
Georgia, Louisiana,
North Carolina, and
South Carolina)
• By 1870- Mississippi,
Virginia, and Texas were
restored to the Union
President Johnson
• Johnson opposed Radical
Reconstruction
• Johnson used his power of
commander in chief of the
army to direct the military
governors
• Congress passed laws to
limit the presidents power,
such as the Tenure of Office
Act
• This Act prohibited the
president from removing
government officials,
including members of his
own cabinet, without the
Senate’s approval
• Conflict between Johnson
and the Radicals grew more
intense
Johnson and the Radicals
• August 1867- Congress was
not in session
• Johnson suspended
Secretary of War Edwin
Stanton without the Senate’s
approval
• Congress met again and
refused to approve the
suspension, Johnson
removed Stanton from office
• This violated the Tenure of
Office Act
• Johnson also appointed
people the Radical
Republicans opposed to
command some of the
Southern military districts
Impeaching the President
• Outraged by Johnson’s
actions, the House of
Representatives voted to
impeach the president
• Formally charge him of
wrongdoings
• 1868- the case went to the
Senate for a trial that lasted
almost 3 months
• Both sides made their
arguments
• The senators failed to
achieve the 2/3rd majority
required for conviction (1
vote)
• As a result, Johnson stayed
in office until the end of
1869
Election of 1868
• The Republicans
nominated Ulysses S.
Grant, the Civil War hero
• The Democrats chose
Horatio Seymour
• Grant won most of the
African American votes
in the South and won the
presidency
• This election showed
that voters supported the
Republican approach to
Reconstruction
15th Amendment
• 1869- Congress passed the
15th Amendment
• Prohibited state and federal
governments from denying
the right to vote to any male
citizen
• Because of “race, color, or
previous condition of
servitude”
• African American men won
the right to vote in 1870
• Republicans believed the
power of the vote would
enable African Americans to
protect themselves
• This belief was too
optimistic
What were the results of Radical Reconstruction?
-African Americans gained full citizenship with the
rights due all citizens, although protecting these
rights proved difficult
-African American men gained the right to vote
-African American voters, combined with the refusal
of many white Southerners to vote, put Republicans
in control of Southern state governments
-By 1870 all of the Southern states had met the
requirements under Radical Reconstruction and were
restored to the Union
Chapter 17 Section 2 Quiz
African Americans were granted
full citizenship by the
A. 14th Amendment.
B. Ten Percent Law.
C. Civil Rights Act of
1866.
D. black codes.
co
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25% 25% 25% 25%
All individuals born in the United States
were granted full citizenship by the
A. Thirteenth
Amendment.
B. black codes.
C. Civil Rights Act of
1866.
D. Fourteenth
Amendment.
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The only Southern state to immediately
ratify the Fourteenth Amendment was
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Tennessee.
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North Carolina.
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When President Andrew Johnson violated
the Tenure of Office Act, the House of
Representatives voted to
A. impeach.
25% 25% 25% 25%
B. applaud him.
C. abstain.
D. override.
Which amendment gave African
American men the right to vote?
A. Thirteenth
Amendment
B. Fourteenth
Amendment
C. Fifteenth
Amendment
D. Sixteenth
Amendment
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