The Reconstruction Era

Radical republicans wanted freedmen to be granted the full rights of citizenship. Congress extended the life of the Freedmen's bureau and enacted the civil rights act of 1866, which gave blacks the same civil rights as whites.

Difficult. Johnson opposed the fourteenth amendment and wanted Republican lawmakers thrown out of office. Congress passed the military Reconstruction Act over Johnson's veto.

President Johnson was impeached because he fired an official who was protected under the Tenure of office Act and because the house felt he had brought the office of president into disgrace. He was spared removal from office by one vote.

Sharecroppers had to barrow money from plantation owners to buy the supplies they needed. Few earned enough money to pay back what they owed.

Former Confederates.

Freedmen.

White Southerners.

Southerners.

Republicans learned that for a political party to keep control of the White House, it needed African American votes.

This constitutional amendment guaranteed every male citizen are right to vote, regardless of race.

New state constitutions were written throughout the South guaranteeing such rights as voting and free public education.

New state Governments were composed primarily of Republicans, including many African Americans, who ratified the fourteenth and fifteenth Amendments and built roads, hospitals, and schools.

African Americans served in every Southern state legislature and in both houses of congress and held in high offices in three states.