President Andrew Johnson was criticized by many Northerners for his tolerant postwar policies toward the Confederates. Many felt the Confederates should be punished. They also felt that Confederates who were formerly officeholders should not return to political power.
The Radical Republicans organized to protect emancipated blacks and help them gain the same political rights and opportunities as whites. They were infuriated by the Black Codes, which were harsh laws directed at recently freed blacks. Moreover, the Radicals fought to give blacks a chance to compete in a free-labor economy. In 1866, this activist Congress also introduced a bill to extend the life of the Freedmen's Bureau, and they began work on a civil rights bill.
Finally, the Radical Republicans sought to punish those who fought for the South, take land from plantation owners, and keep former Southern politicians out of office. The Radicals strongly opposed the Democrat President Andrew Johnson.
Watch the following video on the Radical Republicans and take notes.
A new political group formed in the post-Civil War era called the Radical Republicans. This group believed blacks were entitled to the same political rights and opportunities as whites. They also did not like the fact that president Johnson allowed Confederate leaders to retain their land and positions and believed they should be punished. Representative Thaddeus Stevens and Senator Charles Sumner were especially against the merciful policies of Andrew Johnson. This would begin a new political battle. Since the beginning, Americans were critical of the national government becoming too involved in state affairs; however, the Radicals felt they needed government intervention with the Black Codes the states placed on emancipated African Americans. They believed the newly emancipated should be given a chance to be independent and make a living. In 1866, the Radical Republicans introduced a bill to extend the life of the Freedmen’s Bureau and started writing a new civil rights bill.
President Andrew Johnson did not agree with this. He vetoed the Freedmen’s Bureau Bill saying it would increase the size of the government. He also vetoed the Civil Rights Bill, stating that blacks already have the same rights as the whites. Even the moderate Republicans felt Johnson’s statements were racist. They joined with the Radicals, and together they were able to overturn Johnson’s veto of the Civil Rights Act. This was significant as it marked the first time Congress was able to overturn a major legislative act.
Congress soon turned its attention to amending the Constitution. In 1867, Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment which prohibited “states from abridging equality before the law.” The Republicans then said the South could accept black enfranchisement or lose representation in Congress. Another part of the Fourteenth Amendment banned ex-Confederates from holding state or national office.
With the success of the Fourteenth Amendment and local political victories in 1866, the Republicans set forth the Reconstruction Act of 1867. This act took away the right to vote or seek office by “leading rebels.” Of the Confederate army, only those Southern Unionists or Southerners who supported the Union could become leaders in the South. This act also divided the South into five military districts. These districts were under command of the army and were used to protect black property and citizens.
During the first years of Reconstruction, Southern states began to rewrite their Constitutions and ratify the Fourteenth Amendment. The Congress seemed to be in control of the situation. There was just one obstacle—President Andrew Johnson. The Congress had a plan to remove this obstacle—presidential impeachment.
| Why was Congress overturning Johnson's veto a significant act? | It was the first time Congress was able to overturn a major legislative act. |
| What was stated in the Fourteenth Amendment? | It prohibited states from inhibiting equality before the law. |
| What did the Reconstruction Act of 1867 do? | It prohibited Southern Rebels from having the right to vote or take office. Only Unionists had this right. |
