1.2.1
The Fourteenth Amendment
Debates in Congress between North and South
Debates in Congress between North and South
Congress met in December 1865 and there was tension again between the Northern and Southern States. The Northern States disliked the Southern policy of ‘Reconstruction Confederate Style’.
Confederate politicians and Republican groups
Confederate politicians and Republican groups
- Many Northern politicians feared that black people would rise up against their unfair treatment in the South. They also felt that black people should be given greater freedom.
- There was much tension between the Confederate politicians and the Republican Groups.
- Many Republicans refused to let the Confederate congressmen take their seat in Congress.
- Fierce debates took place in Congress between the Republicans and Democrats over black people's rights.
Recognition of new state governments
Recognition of new state governments
- The Republican Congress also refused to recognise the new state governments in the South because they were made up of Confederate elites.
Johnson tries to veto Civil Rights Bills
Johnson tries to veto Civil Rights Bills
- Bills (a statement to try and create a law) were brought to Congress to try and extend Civil Rights to black people in America.
- President Johnson tried to veto the Bills which meant that they couldn’t be debated.
- Congress debated the Bills anyway. As a result, the 14th and 15th Amendments were passed.
The Fourteenth Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment gave citizenship rights to all people born in the United States and meant that all US citizens had equal rights.
The Fourteenth Amendment, 1866
The Fourteenth Amendment, 1866
- The Fourteenth Amendment reinforced the 1866 Civil Rights Act.
- This gave citizenship rights to all people who had been born in the United States of America (not including Native Americans).
- This was meant to show that all people, including former slaves were citizens and that they would have equal rights.
Content of the Fourteenth Amendment
Content of the Fourteenth Amendment
- The Fourteenth Amendment:
- Banned many old Confederates from holding office.
- Stated that the federal government could get involved in state matters if it was for the Civil Rights of the people.
- Stated that the Black Codes were illegal.
Passing the Fourteenth Amendment
Passing the Fourteenth Amendment
- To pass the Fourteenth Amendment there had to be approval from 75% of Congress.
- With the influence of the Confederate politicians, this was not possible. The South was too racist to let this bill pass.
- There were continuing race riots and the Ku Klux Klan was growing in popularity.
- As a result, the Military Reconstruction Act was passed.
1‘Free at Last’ 1865-77
1.1The Thirteenth Amendment
1.2Radical Reconstruction, 1867-77
2The Triumph of ‘Jim Crow’ 1883-c1890
2.1Jim Crow Laws & Civil Rights Cases
3The New Deal and Race Relations, 1933–41
3.1Failure to Address Black Grievances
3.2The New Deal
3.3The Second World War
4‘I have a dream’, 1954–68
4.1Civil Rights Activities, 1954–63
4.2Civil Rights 1964-68
4.3Malcolm X & The Black Panthers
5Obama's Campaign for the Presidency, 2004–09
5.1The Late 20th Century
5.2Barack Obama & his Political Career
5.3Reasons for Obama's Victory
Jump to other topics
1‘Free at Last’ 1865-77
1.1The Thirteenth Amendment
1.2Radical Reconstruction, 1867-77
2The Triumph of ‘Jim Crow’ 1883-c1890
2.1Jim Crow Laws & Civil Rights Cases
3The New Deal and Race Relations, 1933–41
3.1Failure to Address Black Grievances
3.2The New Deal
3.3The Second World War
4‘I have a dream’, 1954–68
4.1Civil Rights Activities, 1954–63
4.2Civil Rights 1964-68
4.3Malcolm X & The Black Panthers
5Obama's Campaign for the Presidency, 2004–09
5.1The Late 20th Century
5.2Barack Obama & his Political Career
5.3Reasons for Obama's Victory
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