Congressional Reconstruction

• Andrew Johnson became President following assassination of Lincoln . He aimed at quick return to normality. He wanted to ratify the 13th Amendment
• Radical Republicans = Republicans in Congress who had been active opponents of slavery . They saw southern slaveowners as evil exploiters and wanted radical changes to help the freed slave
• Freedman's Bureau = Set up by Congress in 1865. To care for former slaves. It provided food, shelter , hospitals and education . It set up 2 universities, its 900 agents were subject to intimidation and violence by hostile white southerners
• Civil Rights Act 1866 = All people born in the USA were endowed with the rights of citizens, everyone should have full and equal benefit of all laws and equal subjection to penalties for breaking laws
• First Reconstruction Act 1867= The 11 Confederate southern states were divided into 5 military districts. There were to be new state constitutions made by elected delegates chosen by all male citizens over the age of 21 of whatever race , colour or previous status
• Fourteenth Amendment 1868= Passed in June 1866 but ratified 2 years later , this declared that no state could deny any person full rights as an American citizen. All had entitlement to 'due process of law' to ensure 'the equal protection of laws and to all the rights, privileges and immunities of citizens
• Fifteenth Amendment 1870 = Ensured that rights of citizens should nor be derived or abridged by any state on account of race
• Ulysses S Grant worked more closely with Congress and used federal troops to support the legislation
• African Americans faced many challenges like Memphis- 1866, 46 African Americans were killed in race riots, in New Orleans , 35 died
• African Americans in the former Confederate states engagement in political life around 1877
• The Compromise of 1877= Turning point of state rights. Allowed southern stats to segregate black children