US History

U.S. History Study Guide

14.11 Reconstruction Act of 1867 After a huge victory in the 1866 Congressional election, the Radical Republicans gained the majority of both the House of Representatives and Senate and were able to push through the Fourteenth Amendment and military occupation of the South. On March 1867, Congress passed the Reconstruction Act of 1867 over Johnson’s veto, which nullified the state governments formed under Johnson's plan and forced martial law on the ex-Confederate states. Only Tennessee, which had ratified the Fourteenth Amendment, was pardoned. The other ten states were restructured into five military districts run by Union generals. The act sped up the passing of the Fourteenth Amendment by ordering that Southern states approve the Fourteenth Amendment to be readmitted into the Union. In June 1868, seven ex-Confederate states voted and ratified the amendment. Significance • Under the terms of the congressional Reconstruction, ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment was made a condition of readmission to the Union. 14.12 Impeachment Crisis The Tenure of Office Act and Command of the Army Act In March 1867 Congress passed two bills to limit President Johnson’s authority. The Tenure of Office Act stopped the president from removing civil officers without Senate approval, the Command of the Army Act prevented the president from issuing military orders except through the commanding general. Impeachment In August 1867, with Congress out of session, Johnson suspended Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and replaced him with Grant. Republicans in Congress refused to approve Johnson’s changes, and called for impeachment on the grounds that Johnson had violated the Tenure of Office Act. Johnson’s impeachment trial began in March 1868 and lasted nearly three months. Johnson escaped impeachment by one vote, but was left effectively powerless. 14.13 The Fifteenth Amendment Passed The Fifteenth Amendment passed in 1870 and guaranteed the right to vote to any citizen, regardless of race, color, or due to former servitude. The amendment was to promote African Americans the right to vote in the South, and to guarantee it in the North and West. The last Southern states awaiting readmission Texas, Mississippi, and Virginia were required to ratify the new amendment as a condition for readmission to the Union.

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