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Difficulty: HardReconstruction and the Reconstruction Amendments

“But the emancipation of the slaves is submitted to only in so far as a contrary course at present is impossible... Although the freedman is no longer considered the property of the individual master, he is considered the common property of society, and the laws of the State must bind him in that condition. Hence the Southern codes... which, while conceding to the freedman the right to hold property, yet restrain his freedom of motion, his right to choose his employer, and his right to define his contract... The solution is that the national government must maintain its control over the late rebel states until the social revolution is completed.”

— Carl Schurz, Report on the Condition of the South, 1865

The conditions described in the excerpt most directly contributed to which of the following developments?

  1. The transition from lenient Presidential Reconstruction to Congressional control and the creation of the Fourteenth AmendmentAnswer
  2. B
    The immediate passage of the Fifteenth Amendment to guarantee black voting rights as a substitute for economic reform
  3. C
    The endorsement of President Andrew Johnson’s plan to restore Southern states to the Union without federal oversight
  4. D
    The withdrawal of federal troops from the South to allow state courts to arbitrate labor contract disputes

Answer

The transition from lenient Presidential Reconstruction to Congressional control and the creation of the Fourteenth Amendment
The correct answer is the option focusing on the transition to Congressional Reconstruction and the creation of the Fourteenth Amendment. Schurz's report highlighted how the Thirteenth Amendment's abolition of slavery was being undermined by Southern state legislatures passing Black Codes. These codes sought to maintain a subservient labor force and deny basic civil rights. The Republican majority in Congress responded by seizing control of the Reconstruction process, passing the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and proposing the Fourteenth Amendment to constitutionalize civil rights protections and ensure equal protection under the law.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document.
The source is Carl Schurz's 1865 report detailing how Southern states implemented 'codes' (Black Codes) to severely limit the freedom, labor choices, and movement of newly emancipated African Americans, treating them as 'the common property of society' despite the nominal abolition of slavery.
Understanding the core argument of the stimulus helps identify the historical problem being addressed.
2
Evaluate the political context of late 1865.
During Presidential Reconstruction (1865–1866), President Andrew Johnson allowed Southern states to reenter the Union under lenient terms, which enabled these states to pass Black Codes. Radical and moderate Republicans in Congress grew increasingly alarmed by these codes and the violence against freedmen.
Placing the document in its chronological context reveals the conflict between Presidential and Congressional plans.
3
Identify the legislative outcome that addressed this problem.
To counteract the Black Codes and protect the rights of freedmen, Congress took control of Reconstruction in 1866–1867. They passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, drafted the Fourteenth Amendment (to guarantee equal protection and citizenship), and enacted the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 (establishing military rule in the South).
This directly connects Schurz's observations of Southern defiance to the subsequent legislative actions taken by Congress.

Key Concept

The shift from Presidential to Radical Reconstruction and the constitutional response to Southern Black Codes.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Reconstruction and the Reconstruction Amendments

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