The Civil War Amendments

and

The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

Key Political Issues

13th AmendmentThe 13th Amendment was passed in December

1865. It was the first in a series of 3 “Civil War Amendments” that were passed following the end of the war. This amendment has its origin in the Emancipation Proclamation when Lincoln declared that “all men shall be free”. Therefore 13th formally abolished slavery and any form of involuntary servitude within the United States, except if a person has been convicted of a crime and sentenced to service. This amendment failed to gain the required 2/3 vote in the House of Representative and was hence forwarded on to the states themselves for ratification. Only Mississippi refused to ratify the 13th Amendment, but Johnson still readmitted them to the union.

(The above link will bring up the actual (The above link will bring up the actual text of the 13th Amendment.)text of the 13th Amendment.)

1. Formally abolishes slavery

2. Formally abolishes any form of involuntary servitude

EXCEPTION: A person can only serve involuntarily IF they are convicted of a crime by a United States court.

Johnson and the Freedman's BureauThe

Freedman's Bureau had been created to help ex-slaves after the war.

This cartoon depicts Johnson’s veto of the Freedman’s Bureau

"Andy Goes Home"

Enfranchise -- Disenfranchise???

Seward v. Johnson

The Black Codes were passed in 1865 and deprived former slaves of their rights to hold meetings (unless whites were present), travel without permits, own guns, inter-marry with white citizens and were an attempt to prevent their economic self-improvement.

Similar to the former

“Slave Codes”

14th AmendmentIn 1866 Congress overrode Johnson’s veto of

the Civil Rights Act, that declared that everyone born in the U.S. was a citizen with full civil rights. This act was an effort to overturn discriminatory laws and the 1857 decision in Dred Scott v. the United States, that declared blacks were NOT citizens. Passed in June 1866 (ratified July 1868), the 14th Amendment extended equal citizenship to African Americans and all people born or naturalized in the United States.

1. Equal citizenship to all born or naturalized in the United States

2. States cannot deprive anyone of “life, liberty or property” without Due Process of law.

3. Promised all citizens “Equal Protection” under the law.

4. EXCLUDED suffrage.

“The purpose that brought the fourteenth amendment into being was equality before the law, and equality, not separation, was written into the law.” – Robert Bork

Effects seen from the…..

14th Amendment

THINK ABOUT IT:What is the first

thing you feel when you are done being grounded?

Brown v. Board of Education

Plessy v. Ferguson

20th Century Civil Rights Movement

JIM CROW LAWS: laws that established and enforced racial segregation. (following the 1896 Supreme Court ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson

JIM CROW

Originated 1830 when a white

minstrel blackened his face mocking

African Americans. He danced a crazy “jig” to

the song “Jump Jim

Crow”

"The Birth of a Nation" VIDEO more info.....

15th Amendment“The right of citizens of the United States to vote

shall not be abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of Servitude.”

Passed in 1869 the 15th Amendment guaranteed all citizens of the United States the right to vote. The amendment did NOT give African Americans the right to hold office and it did not prevent states from “limiting” voting rights through measures such as literacy tests, grandfather clauses or poll taxes. The 15th also did not extend the right to vote to women or Native Americans.

An artists rendering of a Freedman’s

first experience voting.

THINK ABOUT IT:

Imagine that you are an immigrant and have just gained citizenship to the U.S. describe the feelings you have as you vote for the first time.

VOTING in NJ: Mundy Peterson of Perth Amboy, NJ was the first

African American to vote in a

national election in 1870

Voting Rights Act Renewal 2006

QUESTION: How far is Congress allowed to go in regulating suspected violations of equal protection, due process and other basic liberties?

Things to CONSIDER:1. The Amendments allow Congress to pass “

appropriate legislation”2. Jim Crow Laws3. Plessy v. Ferguson - 1896

Timeline 1900-2000Founded by:Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B.

DuBois et al.Protested against racial

injusticeLobbied for African

American rightsNAACP Homepage

Impeachment of Andrew JohnsonJohnson took control of the executive branch in 1865 following

Lincoln’s assassination. His views regarding the direction that Reconstruction should take were extremely controversial and brought him into conflict with Congress. Johnson was brought up on 11 articles of impeachment citing among other issues “high crimes and misdemeanors”. In 1867 Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act which required Senate approval of a replacement before the President could remove an official earlier confirmed by the Senate. Johnson tested the effectiveness of this act in 1868 when he removed Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton. (a Radical supporter) Congress responded by impeaching the President for, among other issues, violation of the Tenure of Office Act. On May 16, 1868 the Senate failed to remove Johnson from office by 1 vote. Johnson’s impeachment brought to light some issues concerning the activities of an aggressive Congress’ actions against a sitting President.

Andrew Johnson

17th President

1865-69

1st President to be Impeached

Was NOT removed from office by 1 vote

“The President, Vice President and all

civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from

Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of,

Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes

and Misdemeanors.“Constitution

 

DECISION TIME: Evaluate Johnson's attempt to handle the situation.

Fair Government???

Romeo and Mercutio(Note to teacher: This cartoon is a good exercise in cross-curricular activities

with English Literature – “Romeo and Juliet”)

Andy Loses Power (Note to teacher: Cross-curricular with English Literature)

Following his Presidency Johnson struggled in politics. He was eventually elected to the Senate, but died 5 months into his term.

ARTIST, Thomas Nast creates a self-portrait with Johnson as he re-

enters the Senate.

Et Tu Johnson..... The Political Death of a President