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