Overall, the acts that Congress passed during the Reconstruction period had good intentions, but were not very successful at ensuring liberty and equality for newly free black Americans because many people disagreed with them and they could not be enforced.
This Freedman's Bureau Acts
The Freedman's Bureau was an organization created by Congress to help rebuild the lives of recently freed slaves and struggling whites after the Civil War. The Freedman's Bureau Acts were in favor of enlarging this organization in order to continue distributing food and clothing, as well as build hospitals, schools, industrial institutes, and teacher-training centers. These acts were, however, ultimately vetoed by Johnson.
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was created in order to allow African Americans to be citizens and to make "black codes" unlawful. "Black codes" were unfair laws that Southern states had created in order to limit the lives of newly freed African Americans. Basically, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was an attempt by Congress to get rid of discrimination against African Americans early on. This act was vetoed by Johnson along with the Freedman's Bureau Act, but, in response, Congress decided to override his decision.
14th Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment was a way to constitutionally support the Civil Rights Act, by declaring everyone born or naturalized in the United States automatic citizens. However, it is important to note that this amendment did not guarantee blacks the right to vote. This amendment was eventually ratified in 1868; at the time, though, Johnson highly advised the Southern states to reject it, and they followed his advice.
15th Amendment
The Fifteenth Amendment was what actually ensured voting rights to African Americans. It would apply both to the North and South, and stated specifically that factors of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude" could not be used to limit a person's ability to vote. This amendment was ratified in 1870.
Enforcement Act of 1870
The Enforcement Act of 1870 was drafted in response to retaliation of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. Its purpose was to give the federal government more power in enforcing those amendments, so that the states could not simply decide to ignore them.
Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was enacted in order to allow all races to utilize public buildings and services, including restaurants, theaters, and public transportation. This act, however, did not survive. There was a lot of retaliation against it, and, in 1883, the Supreme Court stated it was not constitutional. This is significant because the question of civil rights had now spread to the judicial branch.
The Freedman's Bureau was an organization created by Congress to help rebuild the lives of recently freed slaves and struggling whites after the Civil War. The Freedman's Bureau Acts were in favor of enlarging this organization in order to continue distributing food and clothing, as well as build hospitals, schools, industrial institutes, and teacher-training centers. These acts were, however, ultimately vetoed by Johnson.
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was created in order to allow African Americans to be citizens and to make "black codes" unlawful. "Black codes" were unfair laws that Southern states had created in order to limit the lives of newly freed African Americans. Basically, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was an attempt by Congress to get rid of discrimination against African Americans early on. This act was vetoed by Johnson along with the Freedman's Bureau Act, but, in response, Congress decided to override his decision.
14th Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment was a way to constitutionally support the Civil Rights Act, by declaring everyone born or naturalized in the United States automatic citizens. However, it is important to note that this amendment did not guarantee blacks the right to vote. This amendment was eventually ratified in 1868; at the time, though, Johnson highly advised the Southern states to reject it, and they followed his advice.
15th Amendment
The Fifteenth Amendment was what actually ensured voting rights to African Americans. It would apply both to the North and South, and stated specifically that factors of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude" could not be used to limit a person's ability to vote. This amendment was ratified in 1870.
Enforcement Act of 1870
The Enforcement Act of 1870 was drafted in response to retaliation of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. Its purpose was to give the federal government more power in enforcing those amendments, so that the states could not simply decide to ignore them.
Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was enacted in order to allow all races to utilize public buildings and services, including restaurants, theaters, and public transportation. This act, however, did not survive. There was a lot of retaliation against it, and, in 1883, the Supreme Court stated it was not constitutional. This is significant because the question of civil rights had now spread to the judicial branch.