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Date:
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Chapter 16 Section 2: Congress Takes Control
1. Who did many Northern political leaders believe should control Reconstruction? Why?
Congress; because only Congress had the power to admit new states and they felt Southern
states had left the Union
2. Who did many Southerners elect to top state government posts after the war? Why did
many Northerners have a problem with this?
Former Confederate leaders and officials; Northerners were angry that these leaders, who
had encouraged secession, were now in the U.S. Congress
3. What were some actions that Southern state legislatures took to deny African
Americans basic rights?
Refused to ratify the 13th and 14th Amendments; created “black codes”
4. What were several goals of the Radical Republicans’ plan for Reconstruction?
Creating stricter standards for admitting Southern states back into the Union; protecting the
freedom of African Americans in the South; bringing African Americans into the Republican
Party
5. What was the main argument over Reconstruction between the Radical Republicans
Andrew Johnson?
Radical Republicans (created the Congressional Reconstruction Plan) argued that Congress
had the supreme power to make laws and Johnson (created the Presidential Reconstruction
Plan) believed, as President, that he had the power to challenge any laws he felt were
unconstitutional; Unionists and African Americans were in favor of the Congressional plan
and Confederates and secessionists were in favor of the Presidential plan
6. What happened in February 1868? What was the result of the event that occurred?
The House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson on charges of misconduct in office;
Johnson stood trial in the Senate but was NOT convicted (by only one vote); however, he lost
much of his presidential power
7. What happened in March 1867? Under this plan, the military would rule Southern states
until they met certain requirements. What were these requirements?
U.S. Congress divided the South into 5 military districts; requirements were: creation of new
state constitutions that included a section on allowing African American men to vote and
hold office, ratification of the 14th and 15th Amendment, and repealing of “black codes”,
Southern voters also had to take an ironclad oath (an oath stating they had never served in or
helped the Confederate Army)
8. What happened on July 30, 1867? Why? Who was the new governor?
General Sheridan removed Governor Throckmorton from office because federal officials
believed Throckmorton had not put Reconstruction laws into effect in Texas; Elisha M. Pease
9. What were some significant features of the new constitution written in 1869?
Voting rights for all men regardless of race or color, more support for public education;
protected public lands; gave many rights to African Americans that they did not have before;
expanded the power of the governor and the legislature
10. What happened on March 30, 1870? What happened by the end of that year?
U.S. President Grant signed a proclamation that Reconstruction in Texas had ended; all of the
Southern states had rejoined the Union
11. What are some reasons why Governor Davis was disliked and criticized by opponents of
Reconstruction?
Critics said he used the state police for intimidating his opponents, restricted the activities of
his political opponents, postponed elections, used the military in civil matters, and raised
taxes
12. Summarize in a few sentences the heated Governor’s race of 1873 between Edmund
Davis and Richard Coke.
Democrat Coke was a Confederate and against Reconstruction; Davis was a Radical
Republican and unpopular; during the campaign, Davis focused on his positive programs
(improved roads, better schools, etc.), for the state and Coke focused on states’ rights and his
desire to return Texas to pre-Civil War conditions; most Texans supported Coke and he won
the election by about a 2 to 1 margin
13. What was the crisis that struck Texas from December 1873 until mid-January 1874? How
was the crisis resolved?
After the governor’s election of 1873 Democrats claimed that the winner, Coke, should take
office in January 1874; Davis and Republicans argued Coke should have to wait until April; the
Texas Supreme Court was anti-Coke and declared the election unconstitutional; Democrats
formed a new government in January anyway, but Davis was still in the capitol in Austin; a
skirmish between the 2 sides almost broke out; Davis asked U.S. President Grant for help, but
none was sent so he left office on January 17, 1874, and Coke took office