Essay On Radical Republicans

In the book, The Radical and the Republican, was a very interesting, informative read. It made me actually picture myself during that era, and feel how the main people in the book were so passionate about slavery. It focused on the attitudes and the political stand points of Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass, towards the issue on slavery and the emancipation of slaves. James Oake’s portrayal of both men was extremely positive. He went into detail about their politics and their reasons behind their public positions, regarding slavery. “Their minds worked differently. Though they both hated slavery, they both hated it in different ways and not always for the same reasons. Their

President Andrew Johnson assumed office following Lincoln’s assassination. Johnson had his own ideas of Reconstruction and tried to take his own course of action in putting the Union back together following the Civil War. A series of bitter political quarrels between President Johnson and Radical Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction Policy in the South eventually led to his impeachment.

The Radical Republicans, and the rest of Congress, were the ones who passed most of the bills for Reconstruction, because of their ability to override the president with their majority. They expanded the Freedmen's Bureau, which did show some progress in the helping of former slaves and poor white men. The Freedmen’s Bureau set up hospitals, schools, and also gave out supplies. This achieved the enablement of former slaves having the right to free education. Later on, however, the Freedmen’s Bureau became neglected, and was often forgotten or overlooked. The Freedmen’s Bureau is accurately described in this following statement, “This auspicious beginning belied the great disappointments that lay ahead,” (CITE TEXTBOOK).

In 1866, the president’s vetoes to nullify the Civil rights act and Freedmen’s bureau we overridden because they felt that it was wrong to deny a U.S. citizen of their freedom, “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.” In the 1866 elections, the Republicans took power, and made certain that the fourteenth amendment would be passed so that African Americans could gain their rights.

Radical Republicans prevented former Confederates from voting by not counting for them in congress. President Johnson vetoed many laws that the Radical Republicans wanted to pass and the republican would override the veto by a two-third vote. The republican were able to pass thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendment. Thirteenth amendment was created to abolish slavery. Fourteenth amendment addressed the citizenship rights and equal protection for freed blacks. Fifteenth amendment establish the state government from preventing any citizen to their right to vote based on the citizen’s race. Radical leader Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens worked on plans for black's right. The 14th and 15th amendment inspire the future efforts for civil right. Eventually, Congress attempts to impeach President Johnson, but lost one vote to impeach the

The first president to ever be put on trial for impeachment was Andrew Johnson. Johnson would start out as the running mate for Lincoln and would become his vice president. In 1865, Johnson would take over as president following Lincoln’s assassination. During his presidency his power and popularity would decline massively. Within months of each other he would veto the Freedman’s Bureau Bill and the Civil Rights Bill, but they would be passed over his veto. Riots would soon start to break out. In February 1867, congress would pass the Tenure of Office Act, which would in hopes keep the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, at ease. Johnson would be punished because he violated this act due to suspending and then dismissing the Secretary of War. His impeachment trial began in 1868. The trial began in the Senate and Johnson would be acquitted with a vote of

The Radical and the republican written by James Oakes, is the author’s deep political analyzation between two well-known figures, Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass. Oakes gives us the first context clue of what Lincoln and Douglass’s relationship will present to be, when they both had opposite approaches on how to abolish slavery permanently in 1850. Douglass sponsored the radical, Garrisonian reform, while Lincoln was an advocate for the overcautious political approach to problems and affairs. During the next 20 years, the 2 figure heads will shift into the same state of mind, with Douglass progressively identifying the necessity for political guiding rather than ideological purity and Lincoln shifting on issues of race and radical emancipation.

In the book, The Radical and the Republican: Fredrick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the triumph of Antislavery Politics, written by James Oakes connected the politics and the point of views of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass towards the issue of slavery and the emancipation of slaves. Oakes interpretations of both men were very detailed in showing their reason and politics behind their positions they served in society on the topic of slavery. Abraham Lincoln, the republican, and Fredrick Douglass, the radical, two incredibly distinct people, yet both shared similar views towards their hatred on the institution of slavery and their highest hopes for freedom. “How can a relationship so different, yet a like lead to the road to emancipation of the slaves?” Both men had different reasons for their detestation toward slavery, yet both worked to bring the emancipation and fix the injustice regarding the slaves.

After Lincoln was assassinated, vise president Andrew Johnson stepped into office with a goal to change some of the things he believed in. In the article Andrew Johnson it states, “Next they passed measures dealing with the former slaves. Johnson vetoed the legislation. The Radicals mustered enough votes in Congress to pass legislation over his veto--the first time that

Though both Presidents and Congress agreed on ideas for the Reconstruction, the Radical Republicans didn’t feel the same. Shortly after welcoming Johnson, they quickly turned against him and created The Joint Committee of Reconstruction (source 5). Unlike Johnson’s Plan, the Radical Republicans wanted to see immediate change, starting with granting all rights to free men (source 6). The Radicals believed blacks were entitled to the same political rights and opportunities as whites as well as Confederate leaders being punished for their roles in the Civil War (source 7). In hopes to achieve all their goals, the Radicals created America’s first relief organization known as the Freedman’s Bureau. The Freedman’s Bureau offered general welfare for newly freed slaves, as well as foods, clothing, and medicine (source 6 & 8). The Bureau also assumed custody of confiscated lands or property in former Confederate States, border states, District of

The conservative movement has played a crucial role in American politics in the post war era. Ronald Story and Bruce Laurie indentify various elements of the American conservatism. These elements include challenging authoritarian governments and modernist culture, upholding tradition, Christian religion and the rule of law, defending western civilization, and supporting republicanism. American conservatism has been characterized by competing ideologies and tension throughout history. The Americans who are politically liberal and economically conservative favor free trade, minimal state intervention, low taxes, and a small government. On the other hand, conservatives hold the view that American traditional values are normally undermined by

During this period President Johnson continued his pardons and the 10% plan continued to readmit states to the union. Louisiana, Tennessee, and Virginia were a few of the 10% states readmitted. In opposition to Johnson's readmission policies and his Reconstruction plan, Radicals began to refuse to allow Democrats to sit in Congress. Congress also passes the Tenure of Office Act inhibiting the power of the President.

Both the political parties had to cope with the growing of pressure groups and those best able to use the media to attract attention to their causes. The refusal of Johnson to stand for re-election together with the assassination of Robert Kennedy

The Radical Republicans, on the other hand, favored a different approach to the restoration. They believed in giving freed slaves full citizenship in hopes of completely transforming the southern society (Tindell). They hoped to dismantle the Democratic party and the planter elite (Tindell). They helped to pass the Wade-Davis Bill in 1864 that would have required a majority of white male citizens to declare their allegiance (Tindell). It also required

Towards the end of the sixties, both the Left and Right became radical due to the tremendous changes, such as gay rights and black rights, throughout the decade. In particular, Left-wing liberals asked themselves how to make America open for everyone. For example, leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Carl Wittman, led their followers in non-violent protests in demand for their rights. Many people viewed non-violent protests as the effective method to employ in dealing with the government that had “refused to listen to the rights of blacks [and Gays] in the United States of America.” Furthermore, both the Left and the Right became radical through the formation of significant movements, which advocated different issues. Some of these movements,