Isabella Carter
The Radical Republicans were a faction within the Republican Party that lasted from the Civil War into the Reconstruction era. They were led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner and were known for their opposition to slavery and their efforts to secure emancipation and civil rights for Black Americans. During this time, they passed three constitutional amendments: the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude; the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship to Black Americans and guaranteed equal protection under the law; and the Fifteenth Amendment, which granted Black men the right to vote.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Amendments passed | 3 |
| Names of Amendments | Thirteenth Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment, Fifteenth Amendment |
| Focus | Abolition of slavery, civil rights for African Americans, citizenship rights, equal protections |
| Powers | Overruled President Johnson's vetoes, impeached President Johnson, passed Reconstruction Acts, passed Military Reconstruction Act, passed Command of the Army Act, passed Tenure of Office Act |
| Limitations | Did not explicitly ban states from withholding voting rights based on race, did not guarantee female suffrage |
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What You'll Learn
The Fourteenth Amendment
The amendment also included measures to hold states accountable. It authorised the federal government to punish states that violated or abridged their citizens' right to vote by reducing their representation in Congress. Additionally, it mandated that anyone who "engaged in insurrection" against the United States could not hold civil, military, or elected office without the approval of two-thirds of the House and Senate.
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The Fifteenth Amendment
> The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, colour, or previous condition of servitude. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Despite the amendment's passage, African Americans continued to face barriers to voting due to discriminatory laws and practices, such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation by the Ku Klux Klan. It was not until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that all remaining deterrents to exercising the right to vote were abolished, and federal supervision of voter registration was authorised.
It is important to note that the Fifteenth Amendment did not extend the right to vote to women, and it was not until the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 that women gained the right to vote in the United States.
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The Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Act was passed during the Reconstruction era, a tumultuous period following the American Civil War, characterised by the struggle between Radical Republicans and President Andrew Johnson, who opposed their efforts. The Radical Republicans were a faction within the Republican Party, led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner, known for their staunch opposition to slavery and their commitment to securing equal rights for African Americans. They believed that the federal government had a responsibility to shape a multiracial society in the postwar South.
The legislation was closely related to the Second Freedmen's Bureau Act of 1866 and was seen as a crucial step in ensuring the rights of African Americans after the abolition of slavery with the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. It laid the groundwork for the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship to African Americans and ensured equal protection under the law. The Act was initially vetoed by President Johnson, but Congress overrode his veto, marking a significant assertion of congressional power in shaping the nation's course towards racial equality.
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The Reconstruction Acts
The first Reconstruction Act of 1867 called for the ten "rebel States" to be divided into five districts under military control. Each state was required to draft a new constitution, which had to include universal male suffrage and needed approval by Congress. In addition, they had to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to African Americans and former slaves. After completing these requirements, the states would be readmitted to the Union.
Three more Reconstruction Acts were later enacted—two in 1867 and one in 1868—which concerned how the constitutions would be created and passed at the state level. These supplementary acts provided for the registration of qualified voters, the election of delegates to a constitutional convention (if the people voted to hold one), and the submission of the resulting constitution for public approval, all under military supervision and enforcement. Upon enactment of such a constitution, Congress would determine whether it reflected the people's will and conformed to the first Reconstruction Act.
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The Command of the Army Act
The Radical Republicans were a faction within the Republican Party that lasted from the Civil War into the Reconstruction era. They were led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner and were known for their opposition to slavery and their efforts to ensure emancipation and civil rights for Black people. They were critical of many policies of President Abraham Lincoln and his successor, Andrew Johnson.
During the Reconstruction era, the Radical Republicans introduced several constitutional amendments, including the Fourteenth Amendment and the Fifteenth Amendment. The Fourteenth Amendment, passed in 1867, granted citizenship to Black people and required former Confederate states to draft new constitutions and ratify the amendment before being readmitted to the Union. The Fifteenth Amendment, ratified in 1870, extended the right to vote to Black men, stating that the right to vote "shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
One of the measures passed by the Radical Republicans as part of their Reconstruction agenda was the Command of the Army Act. This act was included as a rider to the Army Appropriations Bill for 1867-1868, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Johnson in March 1867. The Command of the Army Act was one of several pieces of legislation aimed at curbing the powers of President Johnson, with whom the Radical Republicans had significant disagreements over Reconstruction policies.
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Frequently asked questions
The three constitutional amendments passed by the Radical Republicans were the Thirteenth Amendment, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Fifteenth Amendment.
The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865.
The Fourteenth Amendment, passed in 1866 and ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to those born on American soil and guaranteed equal protection under the law. The Fifteenth Amendment, ratified in 1870, granted Black men the right to vote.
