1. Notes # 11 “Life during Reconstruction”

2. Fighting in Washington The Radical Republicans managed to get the 13 th, 14 th and 15 th amendments passed, thereby freeing the African Americans and giving them the right to vote. Also, several Civil Rights Acts were passed to further the protection of the freed slaves. However, the Radical Republicans did not get everything they wanted.

3. Fighting in Washington As a result of President Andrew Johnsons lenient policies towards the south, we will learn that though the African Americans were freed from slavery, they were not treated as equals.

4. Fighting in Washington On February 24 th 1868, the Republican Congress impeached President Johnson. Impeachment is a process in which Congress can remove the President if he is convicted of violating the law. The House of Representatives impeaches the President, putting him on trial. The Senate then tries the President too find him innocent or guilty. Congress accused Johnson of changing his cabinet officials with other people who were pro-south, instead of his originals that were tough on the south that Lincoln had appointed before his assassination. The Senate; however, found him innocent.

5. The New South Though the Radical Republicans had tried too bring measures to the South to ensure that Freed slaves would stay free, due to the light enforcement under President Johnson, southern governments continued to try and undermine the freed slaves.

6. Poll Tax In an attempt to prevent slaves from voting, a Poll Tax was created in the south. A Poll Tax required people to pay to vote. This prevented many African Americans from voting, for many were poor.

7. Literacy Test A literacy test required voters to prove that they could read and had some education. Most African Americans had little education and many could not read, which prevented them from voting. Though not all white southern voters could read either, there were different tests that favored white southerners over African Americans.

8. Grandfather Policy The Grandfather policy tried to get around the 15 th Amendment which gave voting rights to African American males. The Grandfather policy stated that a person could only vote in the south if their grandfather had previously voted years ago. Obviously, this meant that African Americans could not vote, for their grandfathers were slaves.