Congressional Reconstruction Aim Was the Radical Republican plan

Congressional Reconstruction Aim: Was the Radical Republican plan for Reconstruction too extreme?

I. Congressional Reconstruction p p Some Radical Republicans (Stevens, Sumner) advocated land redistribution in the South Civil Rights Act (1866) – required an end to legal discrimination against African Americans n p Johnson vetoed; Congress overrode his veto Fourteenth Amendment – Made all nativeborn or naturalized persons American citizens; guaranteed citizens due process and equal protection

Congressional Reconstruction p Military Reconstruction Act – divided the ten unreconstructed states into five military districts with Union generals in charge or political reform n n Would guarantee black male suffrage and equal rights States must ratify the 14 th Amendment before readmission to Union Johnson vetoed; Congress overrode veto African Americans began serving in state legislatures and in Congress

II. Impeaching President Johnson Congress enacted the Tenure of Office Act in 1867 Johnson fired Sec of War Edwin Stanton Congress impeached Johnson, bringing him up on formal charges (House) and trying him (Senate) Johnson was not convicted After this ordeal, he made a truce with Congress and did not interfere w/ their plans p p p n Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment, giving black men the right to vote (excluded women)

III. Southern Economy p Southern economy destroyed n p p Land, infrastructure, banks, etc. Without slavery, South moves toward industrialization New South Carpetbaggers – Northerners who move South to take advantage of poor economy Scalawags – Southern Republicans who support Reconstruction Freedmen’s situation n Sharecropping – former slaves rented land from former owners and paid with share of their crop Tenant Farming – former slaves rented land Debt Peonage – former slaves were trapped in cycle of debt