Congress v. The President
Beginnings of Radical Reconstruction
Johnson on…
 Freedmen’s Bureau: “an immense patronage
never granted to our own people…this
represents a stride toward centralization of
the races”.
 On race: “this is a country for white men, and
by God, as long as I am president, it shall be
government for white men.”
The result of Johnson’s remarks?
14th Amendment
 A response to the vetoed Civil Rights Act of
1866
 “all persons born or naturalized in the United
States were CITIZENS”
 “citizens had equal protection under the laws”
Johnson’s response?
 Urged states not to ratify the
amendment…huh?
 Went on a “swing around the circle campaign”
 Result? 3:1 Republican majority
 Democrats alienated nationwide
Perception of Democrats after debacle
 Waving the bloody shirt strategy
 Democrats were “a common sewer and
loathsome receptacle into which emptied
every element of treason.” Oliver Morton
Gov. Indiana
Military Reconstruction, 1867