The Reconstruction Act was a series of laws passed by Congress between 1867 and 1868 after the American Civil War. The acts divided the Confederacy into military districts and empowered military leaders to assist in registering African-American male voters and establishing new governments in former Confederate states. President Andrew Johnson vetoed the First Reconstruction Act, preferring his own plan that left the reestablishment of state governments to white Southerners without giving African Americans a voice in politics or voting. Congress overrode Johnson’s veto, and each successive Reconstruction Act gave military commanders greater responsibilities and duties. The era of Reconstruction began under Abraham Lincoln in 1863 and ended in 1877, with numerous constitutional amendments and legislation enacted to abolish slavery, grant citizenship to African Americans, and prohibit voting based on race or previous social standing. The Reconstruction Act presented conflicts of interest and ideology, often resulting in further division between North and South, Democrats and Republicans.
The Reconstruction Act is not a single piece of legislation, but rather several supplemental acts and legislation enacted by the United States Congress between the years 1867 and 1868, following the American Civil War. The First Reconstruction Act, signed into law on March 2, 1867, divided the Confederacy into five military districts, under the command of Union generals. By the end of 1868, a total of four Reconstruction Acts had been enacted, empowering military leaders to organize, supervise, and assist in the registration of African-American male voters to help establish new governments within the former Confederate states. Other provisions were also established through the Reconstruction Acts, including requirements for rejoining the Union.
Between the years of 1865 and 1867, Congress proposed various plans for the First Reconstruction Act. The then president, Andrew Johnson, vetoed the legislation in 1867, preferring his own Reconstruction plan developed in 1865. Under Johnson’s plan, the reestablishment of state governments was left to white Southerners, without giving African Americans a voice in politics or in voting. Indeed, Johnson’s Presidential Reconstruction Plan returned former Confederate powers to control of Southern governments, with previously seized lands returned to such individuals. In March 1867, Congress overrode Johnson’s veto and the First Reconstruction Act passed into law.
After establishing the first Reconstruction Act and selecting military commanders for each southern district, Congress realized the difficulties commanders faced from hardy white leaders, farmers, and merchants. Each successive Reconstruction act passed by Congress has given military commanders greater responsibilities and duties regarding the establishment of new governments in the Southern states, as well as establishing requirements for reunification. In short, the four Reconstruction Acts established military districts in the South; called for new state constitutions, passed by Congress, for all Southern states joining the Union; it required that all men in all Southern states be granted the right to vote; and demanded that states ratify the 14th amendment, which established African Americans as legal citizens, as a condition of readmission to the Union.
As an era, Reconstruction actually began under the leadership of Abraham Lincoln in 1863, during the Civil War. The era ended in 1877. Between the years 1863 and 1869, numerous constitutional amendments and pieces of legislation abolished slavery, granted citizenship to African Americans, and prohibited people from voting based on race or previous social standing. Primary laws and amendments enacted included the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the four Reconstruction Acts of 1867 and 1868.
Given the volatile and unprecedented era, every amendment and act was based on freedoms, laws, and requirements for reunification established by Congress. New laws and acts were put in place to address various problems that arose during the Reconstruction era. On both sides of the debate, the Reconstruction Act presented conflicts of interest and ideology, often resulting in further division rather than resolution between North and South, Democrats and Republicans.
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