The Plans of the Radical Republicans for the Reconstruction

The newly elected house in 1866 had representatives who were more radical in their approach. They passed the First Reconstructional Act for a better government for the Southerners. According to this Act the South was divided into five military districts that were under the military authority of the army. The army took up the charge to look into the Reconstructional process, maintenance of peace and protection of the people in the South. Besides, all rebel heads were removed from all governmental posts and replaced by Southern loyalists (scalawags) and white northern who moved to the South (carpetggers).Furthermore, the new constitution formed by the Southern states had to be in line with the U.S. Constitution and to accept the 14th Amendment that recognized the Blacks freemen with a freedom to vote. On accepting these conditions were the Southern States readmitted to the Union All this according to Johnson was against the freedom of the State and hampering the process of reconstruction. Finally, Johnsons move against the Secretary of War, Stanton led to his impeachment. When was acquitted, he accepted the radical views of the Republican Party. The Radical Reconstructional group advocated the following:

• Political and economic control of the South in the hands of Democrats and Southern white males.
• A strong Federal presence in the South to ensure that the rights of the blacks are preserved.
• A military rule in the South in the absence of a strong government.