Radical Reconstruction

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Radical Reconstruction

Immediately following the Civil War the actions of Radical Republicans led to many changes in the South. Leading the way to Radical Reconstruction was Congressmen Charles Sumner and Thadeus Stevens. Their were many goals and motives the Radicals hoped to obtain. The first and main goal of the Radicals was to punish the South. The Radicals also hoped to retain Republican power by taking advantage of the South any way they could. Going along with taking advantage of the South, the Radicals wanted to protect industrial growth in the North and benefit economically from the situation. Another very important goal of the radicals was to aid the freed slaves. Equality for blacks was a hope the Radicals hoped to obtain, but it was also an effective way to retain Republican power. If the Radicals help Blacks, then Blacks will become Republican, thus increasing republican power. Using Legislature, the Radicals hoped to acquire all these things.

The first victory for the Radicals was the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1866. One of the main obstacles the Radicals came across was the opposition by Andrew Jackson. Jackson immediately vetoed the Civil Rights Act as soon as he could. But the Radicals held most of the power in Congress and overrode his veto. Due to Johnson's resistance, Congress took it a step further and then passed the 14th Amendment. "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."-14th Amendment. Both of these basically protected the rights of the blacks and hoped to bring about equality. These actions by Congress didn't sit to well with the South. The South particularly resented the actions of the newly established Freedmen's Bureau, which Congress established to feed, protect, and help educate the freed slaves.

With the exception of Tennessee, all Southern states refused to follow the 14th Amendment. To counteract the South's actions, Congress passed the Reconstruction Act of 1867. This was a strong blow to the South. The act: put

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