Chapter 22 Essay Test
Why was president Johnson impeached? (1) Why didn't the Senate convict him of "high crimes and misdemeanors"? (2) Would Johnson's conviction have permanently altered the balance of power between Congress and the President? (3)
(1) In the spring of 1868, Andrew Johnson became the first President to be impeached. The heavily Republican House of Representatives brought 11 articles of impeachment against Johnson. Many insiders knew that the Congress was looking for any excuse to rid themselves of an uncooperative President. In 1867, Congress passed the Reconstruction Act, which Edwin Stanton, as Secretary of War, was charged with enforcing. Johnson opposed the Act and tried to remove Stanton in direct violation of the tenure of office act. (2) In May of 1868, 35 Senators voted to convict, one vote short of the required 2/3 majority. They figured that his only real crime was disagreeing with Congress on points of policy and that this was not in itself an impeachable offense. (3) Yes because congress had already been passing a lot of things that Johnson had been vetoing. They had been overriding his vetoes so being able to remove him from office would have shown that Congress had more power.
The 14th amendment is commonly referred to as one of the most important additions to the Constitution. Why?
Adopted on July 9, 1868, as one of the Reconstruction Amendments. The amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection of the laws, and was proposed in response to issues related to former slaves following the American Civil War. PROS -Made to give freed blacks the right to vote and defined them as citizens -The Citizenship Clause overruled the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision that black people were not citizens and could not become citizens, nor enjoy the benefits of citizenship. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 had granted citizenship to all persons born in the United States if they were not subject to a foreign power, and this clause of the Fourteenth Amendment constitutionalized this rule. -No person was allowed to be deprived of life, liberty,or property without "due process of law." -No person could be denied "equal protection of the laws." -Paved way for 15th amendment which prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude".
What role did each of the following play in the congressional assumption of control over Reconstruction policy
Congress had clear goals for reconstruction and all these policies deteriorated it The Black Codes: Brought slavery back. South enacted a series of restrictive laws known as "black codes," which were designed to restrict freed blacks' activity and ensure their availability as a labor force now that slavery had been abolished. For instance, many states required blacks to sign yearly labor contracts; if they refused, they risked being arrested as vagrants and fined or forced into unpaid labor Southern Election of Former Confederates: Alexander Stephens, ex confederate vice president. Congress didn't want former Confederate leaders to be pardoned, they would kill the United States President Johnson: Racist, white supremacist, tried to help whites more than blacks, didn't want slavery to end, undermined congress a lot
What were the key elements of President Andrew John's Reconstruction policies that stirred objections from congressional Republicans? Why did congressional leaders so strongly object to those policies?
He returned confiscated property to white southerners, issued hundreds of pardons to former Confederate officers and government officials (Pardons allowed many of the planter aristocrats the power to exercise control over Reconstruction of their states. The Radical Republicans were outraged that the planter elite once again controlled many areas of the south.) -and undermined the Freedmen's Bureau by ordering it to return all confiscated lands to white landowners. -Johnson also called for special state conventions to repeal the ordinances of secession, abolish slavery, repudiate all debts incurred to aid the Confederacy, and ratify the Thirteenth Amendment. -As it became clear that the design of the new southern state governments was remarkably like the old governments, both moderate Republicans and the Radical Republicans grew increasingly angry. -Congress didn't like a racist, white supremacist president, he led the country in a different direction
Assess the achievements and shortcomings of "radical" regimes in the South. What did they do that is worth admiring and worth condemning? What else might they have done to better achieve their goals?
KKK: pros-1920s, was a very reputable organization with several prominent members advocating the advancement of white American Christians. cons-They pretended to be ghosts and hurt the blacks. Also hurt and killed many blacks. FREEDMEN'S BUREAU: pros-Welfare agency. Helped many freedmen receive food, shelter, clothes, education cons-It did not often give slaves land and made them sign labor contracts to former masters RADICAL REPUBLICANS: pros-antislavery tried to help blacks and protect their rights. cons-biased towards rich white people, possibly did these things for the betterment of the party and not the people.
Compare and contrast Lincoln's, Johnson's, and Congress's plans for Reconstruction. Cite what was included and what was omitted. Which program do you think was the most successful?
LINCOLN -to build a strong Republican party in the South -a proclamation of amnesty and reconstruction for confederates -once 10% of a state's total vote in the presidential election of 1860 took the oath of allegiance and organized a government that abolished slavery, he would grant that government executive recognition JOHNSON -disenfranchised all former military and civil officers of the Confederacy and all those who owned property worth $20,000 or more and made their estates liable to confiscation (intentions were to shift old planter aristocracy to the small farmers and artisans) CONGRESS -denied representatives from the former Confederate states their Congressional seats -passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 -wrote the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, extending citizenship rights to African Americans and guaranteeing them equal protection of the laws.
How did freed slaves respond to Reconstruction? How did freedom affect the economic, social, and political life of a former slave? In what ways was their freedom still incomplete?
Response? Many weren't sure of their freedom at first and often tested it out by going into the streets and such. SOCIAL: -They changed their names and wanted to be addressed as Mr,Mrs,Ms, etc. Got married -Churches. Formed churches which were the bedrock of the community. -Education through the Freedmen's Bureau. Started their own schools to learn how to read and write. White women from American Missionary volunteered as teachers ECONOMIC: -Freedmen's Bureau, a welfare agency that was to provide food, clothing, medical care, and education. Oliver O. Howard headed the bureau. Achieved great success in education; taught about 200,000 blacks to read BLACK CODES: -Labor contracts and fines that had to be paid, but the only way for a black man to earn money was labor so it was basically slavery all over again. -1866 Civil Rights Bill cancelled out the Black Codes. POLITICAL: -The 14th amendment encouraged people to allow freed slaves to vote. The amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection of the laws, and was proposed in response to issues related to former slaves following the American Civil War. -15th amendment made it a law for freed slaves to be allowed to vote. Can't restrict someone from voting based on race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Union League helped to represent blacks with grievances before governments and employers. It was a network of political clubs that educate members in civic duties African Americans movies helped show pride but didn't get to vote. Gave them a voice.
Some historians have argued that Reconstruction was a total failure, while others have seen it as laying the foundation for future American progress in race relations and civil rights. What arguments can be made for each position? Which is more persuasive?
SUCCESS: -Restored the U.S. to a united country after the Civil War -The expansion of both Northern and Southern economy. Both areas were able to flourish with the help and support of the other -Gave blacks rights such as the right to vote. -Gave blacks opportunities to form political organizations and churches. Economic Independence. FAILURE: -The collapse of the Radical Republican Party -The lack of acceptance of former slaves by whites and their unwillingness to give African Americans the rights they deserved -"national disgrace" -Radical republicans having selfish intentions. Republican's wanted to exploit Southern labor by using blacks as a way to get more Republican votes from the South
