9.2 Radical Reconstruction A. Reconstruction Difficulties Persist 1. Southern legislatures passed black codes that limited the rights of freedmen. a) The black codes did grant some rights to freedmen like marriage and owning some kinds of property. b) The codes were clearly meant to keep freedmen from gaining political or economic power. 2. Black codes forbade freedmen to vote, own guns, or serve on juries. a) In some states, freedmen were only allowed to work as servants or farm laborers. b) Some states required freedmen to sign contracts for a year’s work and if they didn’t they could be arrested and sentenced to work on a plantation.

9.2 Radical Reconstruction 3. Republicans charged that, by placing too few restrictions on the South, President Johnson’s Reconstruction plan had encouraged southern legislatures to pass the black codes. a) Also, there was violence against freedmen. 4. A report by the Joint Committee on Reconstruction accused the South of trying to “preserve slavery”. a) President Johnson ignored the report. b) Members of Congress known as Radical Republicans vowed to take control of Reconstruction.

9.2 Radical Reconstruction B. Reforms of the Radical Reconstruction Congress 1. The Radicals were led by Thaddeus Stevens of PA in the House and Charles Sumner of MA in the Senate. a) 2 main goals. b) First, break the power of wealthy planters in the South. c) Second, ensure that freedmen had the right to vote. 2. Radicals need the support of moderate Republicans, the largest group in Congress. a) They disagreed on many issues, but with southern democrats barred from Congress, Republicans controlled both houses. 3. To combat the black codes, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in April 1866.

9.2 Radical Reconstruction a) It gave citizenship to African Americans. b) Johnson vetoed the bill and Congress overrode the veto. 4. Republicans feared that the Supreme Court might use its power of judicial review to declare the Civil Rights Act unconstitutional like in the Dred Scott case. a) Republicans proposed the 14th Amendment, which defined a citizen as “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.” b) Equal protections under the law.

9.2 Radical Reconstruction c) It forbade states from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. d) States could not discriminate because of race and any state that denied the right to vote to any male 21 or older would have their state’s representation reduced. 5. Republicans hoped the impact of the amendment on life in the United States would be to protect basic political rights for African Americans in the South. a) The 14th Amendment was a strong tool in the fight for African American rights all the way until the 1950s.

9.2 Radical Reconstruction C. Political and Social Problems During Reconstruction 1. President Johnson encouraged southern states to reject the 14th Amendment. 2. Across the North, Johnson urged to reject the Radicals. 3. In 1866, a riot in New Orleans killed 34 African Americans who had gathered in support of a convention backing voting rights. a) This and other acts convinced voters that stronger measures were needed. b) The 1866 Congressional election was a disaster for President Johnson.

9.2 Radical Reconstruction c) Republicans won majorities in both houses of Congress. 4. In 1867, Republicans prepared to take charge of Reconstruction. a) With huge majorities in both houses, Congress could easily override any veto by the President. b) This was the beginning of Radical Reconstruction. 5. Congress passed the first Reconstruction Act in March 1867. a) It threw out the state governments that refused to ratify the 14th Amendment. (All but TN) b) The Military Reconstruction Acts of 1867 divided the southern states into five military districts, each governed by military generals. c) Army commanders were given broad permission to enforce Reconstruction.

9.2 Radical Reconstruction 6. Military rulers in these military districts had nearly unlimited power. a) Trials without juries. b) Southern rights were trampled upon. 7. Congress continued to impose new rules. a) To rejoin the Union, southern states had to rewrite their constitutions and ratify the 14th Amendment. b) Southern states also had to allow African Americans to vote. 8. With new state constitutions in place, reconstructed states held new elections to set up new state governments.

9.2 Radical Reconstruction a) The 14th Amendment barred former Confederates from voting. b) Protected by the army, freedmen for the first time proudly voted. c) Republicans gained control of the new southern state governments. D. Political Problems and a New President 1. Congress passed other Reconstruction acts over President Johnson’s veto. a) The President has the duty to execute any law that is passed even veto overridden laws. b) President Johnson did what he could to limit their effect. c) Johnson fired several military commanders who favored Radical Reconstruction.

9.2 Radical Reconstruction d) Congress decided to try to remove Johnson from office. 2. On Feb. 24, 1868, the House of Representatives voted to impeach, or bring formal charges against, Johnson. a) According to the Constitution, the House may impeach a president for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”. b) The president is removed from office if the Senate votes by 2/3s for removal.