Great start to the presidency He was ideal and acted quickly…
1865---------------1866
Only southern senator who stayed on in congress and rejected secession Supporter of Lincoln! Democrat – Balance…….. Supporter of emancipation Announced a pardon to all southerners if they swore an oath of allegiance in the 7 non supporting southern states
Congress also prohibited the President from issuing military orders and passed the Tenure of Office Act
Reconciliation approach did not work and made mistakes which upset congress
1868 - Johnson tries to suspend Stanton – Stevens leads mod and rad republicanism an attempt to impeach the president Johnson is saved by 1 vote, but is finished……..
Congress fought back and Johnson was forced to create his own party, the NUP…
Congress on the attack! The Reconstruction Act leads to Southern fury……
1867 - Reconstruction Act introduced – Only Tenessee allowed to stay in the Union and other states put under military rule temporarily until they accepted voting rights for blacks (14th amendment) Thaddeus Stevents wanted to go further – confiscate lands and estates of southern elites redistribute to them to the Freedmen – this would give total economic and political freedom to black people South furious with this – KKK grew up and there were riots….
The same southern elites ruled the south – did not prosecute “war criminals” Black Codes brought in by the south Vetoed extension of the Freedman’s bureau in 1866 Vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866
Congress voted to override Johnson’s veto Alliance between Mod rep and Rad rep led to endorsement of 14th amendment (Civil Rights Act) This would penalise southern states trying to deny the vote to blacks and disqualify from office ANYONE who had supported the Confederacy. It also cancelled Johnson’s pardons. Johnson’s new party was destroyed in the 1866 election – Republicans control Congress with 2/3 majority over Democrats…