Overview
This lecture examines the political conflict between President Johnson and Congress during Reconstruction, focusing on federal action to support former slaves and efforts to counter Southern Black Codes.
Presidential vs. Congressional Reconstruction
- President Andrew Johnson favored lenient readmission of Southern states, allowing former Confederates to regain power.
- Congress, dominated by Radical Republicans, sought stricter measures and greater protections for former slaves.
Freedmen's Bureau & Northern Aid
- The Freedmen's Bureau was a federal agency providing food, shelter, job training, and education to formerly enslaved people.
- The bureau successfully established public schools in the South, reducing illiteracy among African Americans.
- Northern teachers and organizations, like the American Missionary Association, moved South to aid freed people.
- The Freedmen's Bureau faced opposition from President Johnson, who vetoed its renewal; Congress attempted to override.
Black Codes in the South
- After emancipation, Southern states enacted Black Codes, state laws controlling and restricting the rights of African Americans.
- Black Codes required Black Americans to sign labor contracts; violators could be forced into labor—creating a system similar to slavery.
- These codes enforced white supremacy by denying Black people rights such as voting, property ownership, jury service, and court testimony.
Congressional Response: Civil Rights Act of 1866
- Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 to overturn Black Codes and grant citizenship and equal rights to African Americans.
- The Act overruled the Dred Scott decision and made all persons born in the U.S. citizens.
- President Johnson vetoed the Act, but Congress overrode his veto and enacted the law.
The Fourteenth Amendment
- The 14th Amendment established birthright citizenship and guaranteed equal protection under the law.
- Its ratification required two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of states.
- President Johnson opposed the amendment and campaigned against its ratification in the states.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Freedmen's Bureau — Federal agency assisting freed slaves with basic needs, education, and integration.
- Black Codes — State laws restricting Black people's freedom and enforcing racial hierarchy in the postwar South.
- Civil Rights Act of 1866 — Law granting citizenship and equal rights to all born in the U.S., overturning Black Codes.
- Fourteenth Amendment — Constitutional amendment ensuring birthright citizenship and equal legal protection.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the impact and limitations of the Freedmen's Bureau.
- Study the text of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Fourteenth Amendment.
- Be prepared to explain how Black Codes functioned and how federal laws countered them.