Radical Republicans in the American Civil War

The Beginning of Radicals in Congress

Feb 21, 1840

During the late 1840s, before the Republican Party was created, a small group of antislavery radicals in Congress (including Salmon Chase and Charles Sumner in the Senate and Joshua Giddings , George Julian, and Thaddeus Stevens in the House) formed an unofficial alliance.

The Formation of Radical Republicans

Mar 20, 1854

Before the Civil War stumbled upon our nation, a key event that changed the directions of political parties would occur. As a result of differences among american politicians in the Republican Party, it dissented into three factions: radical, moderate, or conservative.

Leaders of the Radical Republican Faction of the Republican Party

Apr 21, 1860

Both Representative Thaddeus Stevens and Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner opposed President Andrew Johnson's lenient policies towards the reconstruction.

Thaddeus Stevens

Apr 21, 1860

Thaddeus Stevens was one of the prominent leaders in the Radical Republican Party and the most famous Radical Republican in the Hous of Representatives. Stevens served as chairman of the joint committee on reconstruction and determined the Southern states as "conquered provinces." The Pennslyvania native opposed President Lincoln's Reconstruction plan as too lenient.

Leaders of the Radical Republican Faction of the Republican Party

Apr 21, 1860

Charles Sumner was another prominent leader in the Radical Republican Party in the senate and was a Senator of Massachusetts for more than twenty years. Sumner was a lifelong proponent of social equality for Afrucan Americans. Also, he supported prison reform and educational reforms.

Radical Republicans Plan for Reconstruction

Apr 21, 1865

-The Southern states were put under military rule under the command of an army general.
-African Americans were allowed to vote
-Southern states had to ratify the 14th amendment (approve), which make African Americans citizens of each state as well as the nation.

The Radicals that Dominated the Joint Committee on Reconstruction

Jan 21, 1866

-Charles Sumner
-Benjamin Wade
-George Julian
-Thaddeus Stevens
-The Radical Republicans believed blacks were entitled to the same politics.

Moderate Republican conversion into Radical Republicans

Feb 22, 1866

The combination of shortcomings of white Southern actions and Johnson's own shortcomings doomed his reconstruction leadership. The "Black Codes" would be the last straw for most Republican moderates. This code limited the freedom and economic power of black men and women. Furthermore, Johnson would present a speech on Washington's birthday, denouncing Sumner and Stevens. He would also refer to Radical Republicans as the "new rebels." As a result, these events drove Moderates from Johnson.

Reestablishing Order in the South

May 21, 1866

The muderous Memphis and New Orleans race riots of 1866, further convinced Northerners that Southern whites would not honor the freedom or even basic safety of African Americans.

Radical Reconstruction (Congressional Reconstruction)

Dec 21, 1866

After sweeping the elections of 1866, the Radical Republicans largely controlled the Northern Reconstruction agenda. Additionally, they gained control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Thus, they gained sufficient power to override any potential veteos by President Andrew Johnson.

First Reconstruction Act

Mar 21, 1867

By passing the First Reconstruction Act in March of 1867, the bill reduced the secessionist states to little more than conquered territory dividing them into five military districts, each governed by a Union general. This act was also known as the Military Reconstruction Act.

Tenure of Office Act

May 21, 1867

Congress passed a series of bills in 1867 to limit President Johnson's power. This bill sought to prohibit Johnson fro firing any government offical or Cabinet member without Senate- confirmed in the first place. Radicals primary objective was to protect Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, because Stanton was the Republicans' conduit for controlling the U.S. military.

President Johnson's Impeachment

Feb 24, 1868

Still not convinced that he had lost control of Reconstruction and the country, Johnson fired Secretary Stanton. In response, Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives.

Second Reconstruction Act

Mar 21, 1868

This act placed troops in charge of voter registration. This was put into place to further safeguard voting rights for former slaves.

President Ulysses S. Grant

Apr 21, 1869

After the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, a recent "convert" to the Radicals' agenda took office as the 18th President of the United States.

The Fifteenth Amendment

Mar 30, 1870

Radicals finally pushed through the Fifthteenth Amendment which, granted black men the right to vote. Moreover, Reconstruction stalled and the racial climate got steadily worse. For a brief moment around 1870, America looked something like what the Radical Republicans had imagined in 1854.

Readmittance

Jun 21, 1870

By 1870 all of the southern states had been readmitted to the Union.

Reconstruction Ending

Apr 21, 1877

Reconstruction has ended.