The document summarizes the political conflict over Reconstruction between President Andrew Johnson and the Republican-led Congress after the Civil War. It describes Johnson's lenient Reconstruction plan, the passage of the 13th and 14th Amendments, the imposition of Black Codes by Southern states, and Congress' increasing radicalization in response to violence against freedmen. This led Congress to take control of Reconstruction away from Johnson and impose military rule over the South until new state constitutions were ratified granting rights to African Americans.

1. The Battle Over Reconstruction

2. A Growing Conflict
 Andrew Johnson
 Proposed lenient plan of Reconstruction
 Put plan into effect himself, did not consult w/
legislators

3. 13th Amendment
 January 1865
 Congress approved amendment to abolish slavery
throughout the nation
 Banned slavery & forced labor
 Congress had power to make laws to enforce its terms

4. Johnson’s Plan
 Amnesty offered
 Southern states could organize new gov’t & elect reps. for
Congress
 Had to abolish slavery & ratify the 13th Amendment
 December 1865
 Most states met Johnson’s requirements
 Senators elected included many former Confederate leaders
 Congress rejected plan
 1st: refused to seat southern senators & reps.
 2nd: two houses appointed a committee to form a new plan for
the South
 Heard testimony about black codes: new laws used by southern
states to control African Americans

5.  Black Codes
 Replaced slavery w/ near slavery
 Caused hard line in Congress
 Radical Republicans
 Wanted to prevent former Confederates from regaining
control over southern politics
 To protect the freedmen & guarantee them a right to
vote

6. Civil Rights Act of 1866
 Granted citizenship rights to African Americans and
guaranteed the civil rights of all people except Native
Americans
 Vetoed by Johnson & another bill extending the life of
the Freedmen’s Bureau
 Congress voted to overturn vetoes, & both received 2/3 vote of
each house & became law

7. 14th Amendment
 All people born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens
 States may not pass laws that take away a citizen’s
rights; cannot deprive any person of life, liberty, or
property w/o due process of law, or deny equal
protection of the laws.
 Any state that denies the vote to any male citizen over
the age of 21, will have representation in Congress
reduced (not enforced until 1970s)
 Became powerful tool for enforcing civil rights

8. Radical Reconstruction
 1866 election
 Rioters & police killed many African Americans in
southern cities
 Led Congress to push for a stricter form of
Reconstruction

9. Radicals In Charge
 Radical Republicans
 Won support to begin strict reconstruction
 Reconstruction Act of 1867
 Removed gov’t of all southern states that did not ratify
14th Amendment
 Imposed military rule & divided states into five military
districts
 Before returning to Union, each state had to write new
state constitution & ratify 14th Amendment
 Also had to let African Americans vote

10. Time of Hope and Advancement
 African Americans
 Were elected as sheriffs, mayors
 18 served in Congress
 Radical Reconstruction
 Southern states opened public schools, legislators spread tax
money more evenly, & made fairer voting rules, gave property
rights to women, states rebuilt bridges, roads & buildings
 Republican Party built a strong following from 3 groups
 Scalawags: southern whites who had opposed secession
 Freedmen voters
 Carpetbaggers: name given by southerners to northern whites who
went south to start businesses or pursue political office

11. 15th Amendment
 Approved in 1869
 Barred all states from denying African American males
the right to vote on account of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude
 Did not prevent states from requiring voters to own
property or pay a voting tax

12. Ku Klux Klan
 Secret societies created by white shut out of power to
terrorize African Americans & their white allies
 Would threaten African American voters, burn crosses
in their yard
 When threats failed they would: whip, torture, shoot, or
hang African Americans & white Republicans
 Congress responded to violence w/ new laws
 Ku Klux Klan Acts of 1870 & 1871
 Barred use of force against voeters