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ImpeachmentAndrew Johnson & the Radical Republicans
Main Ideas
1. In the months after the Civil War, the nation began the effort to rebuild and reunite.
2. As African-Americans entered politics, some white Southerners began to resist Republican reforms.
3. Reconstruction ended as Democrats regained power in the South and in Congress.
How Things Look
Radicals Take Control
1866Congress passes 14th Amendment
18671865Civil War ends;
Lincoln assassinatedCongress passes Military
Reconstruction Act
187015th Amendment
Ratified
• Before Civil War, fight breaks out in Congress• Sen. Charles Sumner
(MA) severely beaten w/ cane by 2 congressmen (SC)• 3-year recovery from
head injury & trauma
• During war, Sumner was first to insist abolition of slavery as war goal
Radicals Take Control
1866Congress passes 14th Amendment
18671865Civil War ends;
Lincoln assassinatedCongress passes Military
Reconstruction Act
187015th Amendment
Ratified
• In absence of Southern Democrats, Radical Republicans see opportunity to remake social order of South & ensure political equality for African-American men
• Lincoln opposes many of their measures• Believes unity would come
faster if South not treated as enemy
Radicals Take Control
1866Congress passes 14th Amendment
18671865Civil War ends;
Lincoln assassinatedCongress passes Military
Reconstruction Act
187015th Amendment
Ratified
• After Lincoln’s death, one person stood in Radicals’ way: Andrew Johnson
• Johnson even more Southern-friendly than Lincoln• Governors he appointed
during Reconstruction passed Black Codes to restrict legal rights of African-Americans• Allowed white planters to
retake control of gov’t & society
Black Codes
1866Congress passes 14th Amendment
18671865Civil War ends;
Lincoln assassinatedCongress passes Military
Reconstruction Act
187015th Amendment
Ratified
• Intended to keep African-Americans in condition similar to slavery
• Required them to enter annual labor contracts• Those who refused arrested
for vagrancy & forced into involuntary servitude
• Established labor hours & required licenses for non-agricultural jobs
Radicals Take Control
1866Congress passes 14th Amendment
18671865Civil War ends;
Lincoln assassinatedCongress passes Military
Reconstruction Act
187015th Amendment
Ratified
• Some Southern states refused to cancel Confederate debt & ratify 13th Amendment (banning slavery)
• Republicans win heavy majority in Congress in 1866 • Now had 2/3 majority to
override presidential veto
• Ends era of “presidential Reconstruction”
• Begin work extending Freedmen’s Bureau & passing Civil Rights Bill
The 14th Amendment
1866Congress passes 14th Amendment
18671865Civil War ends;
Lincoln assassinatedCongress passes Military
Reconstruction Act
187015th Amendment
Ratified
• Johnson vetoes both
• Moderate Repubs join Radicals to override vetoes & pass both bills
• Foreseeing that SCOTUS could reject bill, Repubs draft 14th Amendment• Guarantees full citizenship
to anyone born in U.S.• Johnson opposes
“The Fourteenth Amendment represents a major shift in power away from the states to the federal government, something that was never intended by the framers and that goes against the nature of our Constitution.”
Johnson on the 14th Amendment:
“After the 13th Amendment prohibited slavery, Southern states passed Black Codes in a blatant attempt to return freedmen to a condition akin to slavery. This new amendment is necessary to keep all Americans free.”
Sumner on the 14th Amendment:
The 14th Amendment
1866Congress passes 14th Amendment
18671865Civil War ends;
Lincoln assassinatedCongress passes Military
Reconstruction Act
187015th Amendment
Ratified
• All Southern states (except TN) refuse to ratify amendment
• Congress forced to pass Military Reconstruction Act• Divides South into 5 occupied
military districts• Each ruled by military governor
• Under MRA, states HAD to ratify 14th Amendment & allow African-Americans to vote• Or else lose representation in
Congress• 14th Amendment ratified in a year
Johnson on Reconstruction“The main goal Reconstruction must be to rapidly bring the South back into the Union and to heal the wounds of Civil War; punishing the South is counterproductive. What’s more, attempts by the federal legislature to dictate the structure of state governments goes against the nature of our Union. Finally, the Radical’s move to keep the Supreme Court from reviewing their reconstruction Acts is a gross violation of our system of checks and balances. I will oppose these measures with all of my power!”
Sumner on Reconstruction“The South must be changed while we have the opportunity. The president is a Southern sympathizer, and his prejudice is keeping him from upholding our Constitution. The federal government has an obligation to ‘secure the blessing of liberty’ for all Americans. We will override every one of his vetoes in order to bring racial equality and justice.”
Radicals vs. Johnson
1866Congress passes 14th Amendment
18671865Civil War ends;
Lincoln assassinatedCongress passes Military
Reconstruction Act
187015th Amendment
Ratified
• Congress passed all four Reconstruction Acts into law over president’s veto
• Political offices throughout South were filled by Unionists, carpetbaggers, & even African-Americans• All Republican
Republicans
Radicals vs. Johnson
1866Congress passes 14th Amendment
18671865Civil War ends;
Lincoln assassinatedCongress passes Military
Reconstruction Act
187015th Amendment
Ratified
• Secretary of War directed to enforce Acts with military, if necessary
• Expecting Johnson would fire him, Congress passed Tenure of Office Act in 1867• Required Senate approval
to fire anyone appointed by previous president• Johnson tries to fire him
anyways
• Congress impeaches Johnson
Impeachment
1866Congress passes 14th Amendment
18671865Civil War ends;
Lincoln assassinatedCongress passes Military
Reconstruction Act
187015th Amendment
Ratified
• Impeachment: charging a president with “treason, bribery, or… high crimes & misdemeanors”• Accused Johnson of
breaking law by refusing to uphold Tenure of Office Act
• Senate put Johnson on trial• Needed 2/3 vote to
convict & remove from presidency• Fell one vote short
“Andrew Johnson is innocent because Benjamin Wade is guilty of being his successor.”
-- Newspaper, 1868
Impeachment
1866Congress passes 14th Amendment
18671865Civil War ends;
Lincoln assassinatedCongress passes Military
Reconstruction Act
187015th Amendment
Ratified
• Johnson remained in office, but finished term quietly
• Did not run for office in 1868
• 1868: Republicans nominate Ulysses S. Grant (fmr. Union general)
• Union troops enabled African-Americans to vote in large numbers• Grant, therefore, won 6 Southern
& most Northern states