1863-1880

14th Amendment Ratified

The 14th amendment granted citizenship to people once enslaved. The 14th amendment was passed by congress in June, 1866 and ratified by states in 1868. The Republicans had been battling Democrat, Andrew Johnson over control of Reconstruction. The Republicans who disagreed with Johnson won. The 14th amendment granted citizenship and civil liberties to recently freed slaves.

Civil Rights Act

In 1875, Republicans made an effort to protect what remained of Reconstruction. The Republicans managed to pass a civil-rights bill that tried to guarantee freedom of access, no matter what race you were, in equal public facilities. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was rarely enforced and was eventually declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1883.