Chapter 17 Section 2 Radicals in Control

Unrest Across the South Various reconstruction plans and uncertainty across the south led to several riots in major southern cities.

Unrest Across the South These riots led the Radical Republicans to believe that President Johnson’s plan was not strong enough.

Black Codes By early 1866, many southern states had passed laws to control freed slaves.

Black Codes The laws allowed police to arrest jobless African Americans and banned African Americans from owning or renting land. Congress passed a new bill giving the Freedman’s Bureau new powers to fight the Black Codes

Civil Rights Act of 1866 Congress then passed the Civil Rights Act which granted African Americans full citizenship and gave the federal government the power to intervene in state affairs to protect their rights.

Civil Rights Act of 1866 President Johnson vetoed both bills arguing that Congress did not yet include representatives from all states hence any bills passed were void.

Civil Rights Act of 1866 The Radical Republicans had a large enough majority to override the President and both bills became law.

The Fourteenth Amendment Fearing that the Civil Rights Act might be overturned in court, Congress moved quickly to amend the Constitution.

The Fourteenth Amendment The 14th Amendment granted full citizenship to all people born in the United States. The Radicals then made ratification of the amendment another requirement for southern states to be readmitted

Radicals in full control President Johnson was now powerless. The Radical Republicans could override any veto the President might make.

Radicals in full control This period of time came to be known as Radical Reconstruction.

States rejoining the Union After taking oaths to the Union, many white southerners refused to vote in elections for their new state governments.

States rejoining the Union However, newly registered African Americans did vote. African American overwhelmingly voted in Republican candidates giving the Radical Republicans control of the federal government as well as the state governments.

States rejoining the Union By 1870 all southern states had rejoined the Union.

President vs. Congress The Radicals quickly moved to limit the power of the President as much as possible.

Tenure of Office Act Law passed by Congress stating that the President cannot remove any government official without the authorization of Congress. Johnson blatantly defied the act by removing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton in August of 1867.

Impeachment Outraged by Johnson’s actions, Congress began impeachment hearings on the President. Congress came within one vote of getting the 2/3 majority needed to impeach the President.

Impeachment Johnson stayed in office until his term ended in March 1869.

New President The Republicans nominated Ulysses S. Grant to run for President. Grant was still extremely popular and won an easy victory.

15th Amendment Passed in 1869 it prohibited state governments and the federal government from denying the right to vote to any male citizen regardless of race.