The rise of Radical Republicanism post-Civil War America shaped the Reconstruction era, advocating for African American equality and suffrage. Leaders like Thaddeus Stevens pushed for legislation, including the Civil Rights Act and the 14th Amendment, to ensure citizenship and equal rights. Despite setbacks like the Compromise of 1877, their legacy influenced future civil rights movements.
Show More
The goal of Reconstruction was to restore the Southern states to the Union and define the rights of newly freed African Americans
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 granted citizenship and equal rights to African Americans
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment, proposed by the Radical Republicans, guaranteed citizenship and equal protection under the law
The Reconstruction Acts divided the former Confederate states into military districts and required them to draft new constitutions that enfranchised African American men and ratified the 13th and 14th Amendments
The Radical Republicans sought to guarantee African American suffrage and protect them from violence and discrimination, representing a more progressive stance than their moderate Republican counterparts
Wade-Davis Bill
The Radical Republicans proposed the Wade-Davis Bill, which set stringent terms for the readmission of Southern states and was vetoed by President Lincoln
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment, ratified during Grant's presidency, prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude
The Radical Republicans clashed with President Johnson over his lenient policies towards the Confederacy, leading to his impeachment in 1868
The Compromise of 1877 effectively ended the Reconstruction era, reversing many of the advancements made by the Radical Republicans
00
Consequences of Lincoln's assassination for Reconstruction
Led to President Andrew Johnson's rise, who opposed harsh penalties for the South, clashing with Radical Republicans' aims.
01
Andrew Johnson's approach to Southern states post-Civil War
Favored lenient policies for reintegration, opposed Radical Republicans' push for strict conditions and African American rights.
02
Moderate vs. Radical Republicans' post-war stances
Moderates preferred gradual rights expansion for freedmen; Radicals demanded immediate equal rights and suffrage for African Americans.
