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Black Codes (1866)
The black codes were passed to help control the newly freed African Americans. These laws made it illegal for an African American to own or rent farms. These laws made it easy for whites to take advantage of the African Americans. Some of these laws even allowed officials to fine or arrest unemployed African Americans. -
Civil Rights Act(1866)
This act gave power to the federal government to get involved in state affairs to protect African American rights. Also, this act granted citizenship to African Americans. This act was created to combat the black codes. The act also countered Dred Scott vs. Sandford where African Americans were not ruled citizens. -
14th Amendment (1866)
This amendment guarenteed that citizenship could not be taken away. Also, the amendment protected African Americans citizenship extended by the Civil Rights Act of 1866. The amendment stated that a persons life, liberty, or property could be taken by any state without "Due process of law." Finally, the amendment stated that every person (no matter their color) was entitledto "equal protection of the laws." -
Reconstruction Acts (1867)
1st Act: Law required that the states that had not rafified the 14th Amendment must form a new government. Each state had to submit a new state constitution to congess for approval. Finally, the act guarenteed African American men the right to vote in instate elections.
2nd Act: This act empowered the army to register voters in each district and to help organize state constitutional conventions. Many white southerners refused to take part in constitutional conventions and new state governments. -
15th Amendment (1869)
This amendment guarenteed that state and federal governments could not deny the right to vote to any male citizen because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. They thought that they had succeeded in giving African American men the right to vote. Also, they thought that the power of the vote would allow African Americans tobetter protect themselves against unfair treatment by white people. But, both beliefs were too optimistic.
