weaknesses of the federal government

Question 1

andrew johnson profile

Answer 1

Represented Tennessee in house + senate, was gov from 1853-1857
seemed like the clear choice as Lincoln’s running mate in 1864
Supported emancipation, but racist
Became President after Lincoln’s death
Held deep differences with Congress over Reconstruction
Was impeached in 1868, only narrowly escaping conviction

Question 2

what were johnson’s plans?

Answer 2

wanted to reintegrate southern states fast as possible

favoured leniency

slavery must be abolished, but no wish to promote positive of ex slaves - freed slaves didnt get vote

accepted wade davis bill for oath of loyalty (all southerners except confed soldiers + plantation owners would be pardoned if swore allegiance to union)

but, agreed that when each former confed. state held convention to revise its constitution, those attending convention would be elected by 1860 white electorate

Question 3

how successful were these policies?

Answer 3

not very:

aims to shortcut reconciliation (pardoning southerners) didn’t work as intended + caused repub. Opposition

Had wanted to purge old plantation aristocracy and prevent from gaining power + influence in congress
But new state govs dominated by old southern elites
And men elected to present southern states in congress mostly former confed politicians + officers

New state govs also backtracked on rights for african americans - every state brought in black codes
Several states refused to ratify constitutional amendment for abolishing slavery

Question 4

was his policy flawed?

Answer 4

Understandable that wanted to reconcile south, prevent ex confed becoming ‘degraded and debased’

But had betrayed northern libs
Undermined status of black people in south
Allowed old confed leaders to creep back into politics

Question 5

what opposition came from the south

Answer 5

The men that southern states elected in conventions for state govs were ex confederate politicians etc.
None allowed limited voting rights to freedmen.
All raised objections to ratifying 13th amendment
Imposed black codes.
Raised doubt about southern acceptance of defeat.

1865 KKK founded by confed ex-soldiers in tennessee
1866 race riots in memphis, new orleans + other s. cities
By 1868, entrenched opposition to reconstruction across whole south

Question 6

how did congress oppose johnson?

Answer 6

through overturning of vetoes..

December 1865, congress refused to seat representatives of reorganised southern states
Formed joint committee on reconstruction to decide whether southern states should be allowed back in union
Johnson’s vetoing of civil rights act etc damaged relations w congress
Alienated moderate republicans and forced them to side w radicals - so stronger opposition
Rallying behind amendment shows opposition
Johnson denounced amendment, as angered south
Congress passed Reconstruction Act feb 1867

Question 7

why did johnson clash w/ radical thaddeus stevens

Answer 7

stevens wanted to confiscate estates + redistribute to freedmen
Knew econ freedom as important for slaves as political

Question 8

veto of freedmen’s bureau bill

Answer 8

J didn’t work w/ moderate republicans, sided w/ democrats.
Congress passed a bill strengthening powers of freedmen’s bureau (+3 years, prosecute offenders of discrim. against freedmen).
Johnson vetoed bill.

passed another freedmen’s bureau act 1866, johnson vetoed this too

Question 9

civil rights act 1866

Answer 9

congress passed civil rights bill 1866 which gave minimum rights to black people & allowed fed intervention to enforce them
Johnson vetoed bill
Congress overturned presidential veto (2/3rd majority in both houses, ensured passage of civil rights bill)

Question 10

what was the purpose of the 14th amendment/what did it do

Answer 10

to make sure civil rights bill couldn’t be changed in future

Stated people born in us or naturalised were us citizens, and all us citizens had equality before law
Gave fed. authorities right to intervene if state breached rules
Rejected by all ex-confed states except tennessee
Third clause disqualified from office anyone who had previously supported confederacy - cancelled most of Johnson’s pardons
Most controversial event of reconstruction amendments

Question 11

reconstruction act 1867 - veto + what did it do?

Answer 11

Johnson vetoed
March, congress voted through again, overriding veto

Act declared all previous measures to reintegrate southern states void, only tennessee recognised
other ten ex-confed states effectively abolished
put under military rule until elected delegates agreed new state constitution that allowed voting rights for african americ. males
After this + ratifying 14th amend., would be allowed back in union

Question 12

how did johnson oppose the reconstruction act

Answer 12

obstructed by placing conservative military officers in control of military districts

Question 13

why did congress attempt to impeach johnson

Answer 13

his obstructionist tactics

Question 14

how did congress try to impeach johnson

Answer 14

by passing laws to limit his powers:

Prohibited president from issuing direct military orders

through the Tenure of office act

Question 15

what was the tenure of office act

Answer 15

act passed by congress to limit johnson’s powers + start process of impeachment

Known that J wanted to get rid of secretary of war, edwin stanton
J suspended stanton 1867, strengthened alliance between moderates + radicals
Tried to dismiss stanton 1868
Thaddeus Stevens led house of reps to start process of impeachment

Question 16

outcome of impeachment?

Answer 16

11 charges placed against J, most breaches of tenure of office act
Led to Johnson being placed on trial in senate
Conviction seemed certain, as strong repub majority, but many resisted
Didn’t want to take extreme step + moderates not keen on potential successor Wade
In end, Johnson saved from conviction by 1 vote
Ruined chances of reelection

Question 17

what was grant’s background

Answer 17

Victorious war hero
Republican
Close to radicals
Had a mandate, legitimate
Engaging personality ?
No political background - inexperienced

Question 18

overview of grant’s presidency

Answer 18

Dominated by the issue of reconstruction and ended in failure and disappointment
Administration was plagued by accusations of corruption
Best known before as the Union general who led union to victory during civil war
Presidency lasted two years

Question 19

how did democrats depict themselves in the ‘reconstruction election’ of 1868

Answer 19

Republicans represented themselves as the party of patriotism and principle, painting the Democrats as ‘disloyal’.

Question 20

what did grant’s victory depend on?

Answer 20

7,000,000 votes from African-Americans, which made Republicans even more determined to strengthen the provisions for black voting rights

Question 21

15th amendment

Answer 21

gave voting rights to black men

passed in February 1869, before Grant was even inaugurated

Question 22

who carried out implementation of reconstruction policies

Answer 22

the Federal Government, by state governments in those states where the republicans had a majority in the state legislatures and by organisations such and the Freedmen’s Bureau

Question 23

enforcement acts

Answer 23

Between 1870 and 1871, the federal government passed 3 enforcement acts to strengthen the provision of the 14th and 15th amendments to try and limit discrimination

Question 24

intentions of civil rights act 1875

Answer 24

Intended to guarantee equal treatment in issues such as jury service and public transport

Question 25

reactions to civil rights act

Answer 25

Even some Republicans regarded this as an extreme interference with state governments, and there was a long struggle before it passed
He signed but there was still mounting opposition to such policies in the South, Radical Reconstruction was losing momentum

Question 26

where did opposition to radical reconstruction come from

Answer 26

‘on the ground’ from white terrorist groups e.g. kkk

political opposition from southern state legislatures

powerful reaction from democratic party in south - redeemers

Question 27

how did Violence and intimidation reduce the Republican vote from African-Americans - examples

Answer 27

in Louisiana more than a thousand people were killed, most of them freedmen. This violence was carried out by extremist groups, but they were openly encouraged by ‘respectable’ white politicians.

In 1873 three whites and an estimated 150 pro-republican freedmen were killed in the Colfax massacre

States such as Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama were ‘redeemed’ with the help of similar violent actions

Question 28

examples of legal forms of discrimination to promote redemption of south

Answer 28

voters were disfranchised by measures such as literacy tests and vagrancy laws.

Question 29

at what point had redeemers won back white Democratic control of most of the ex-confederate states?

Answer 29

by 1876

Question 30

The failure of Radical Reconstruction

Answer 30

By 1875, support was waning in congress
Liberal Republicans were reluctant to keep using federal troops in the South
The redeemers had gained confidence due to won back states
‘Redemption’ was helped by Grant’s decision to approve the amnesty act in 1872, allowing large numbers of ex-Confederates to return to political life
In March 1876, two rulings by the Supreme Court went in favour of Southern conservatives, not federal laws.

Question 31

why did reconstruction ultimately fail?

Answer 31

ten years since end of civil war, even radical republicans now tired of constant political battles

northern public sick of hearing about southern affairs

grant’s position weakened by stock market panic 1873

Question 32

what corruption scandals was grant highly criticised for?

Answer 32

1869 black friday scandal - conspiracy btwn gould and fisk to control ny gold market; grant not directly involved but tainted by brothers links to gould + fisk

tweed ring - political machine based on patronage that was controlling politics in nyc

personal secretary caught taking bribes from whiskey ring

Question 33

why was republican party in mess at end of grant’s presidency

Answer 33

combination of scandals and econ depression left grant badly discredited. liberal republicans deserted him, party divided. clear grant would not win third term in office