The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution

After Radical Reconstruction enforced Black suffrage in the South, Black people embraced their newfound freedom and actively participated in political rallies and clubs. Black leaders interpreted the 14th Amendment to guarantee broad equality that exceeded just voting rights. They did not seek forced social interactions, but they insisted on equal treatment in public spheres. Many Black men could vote after the Reconstruction Act, but it was not a national guarantee. Though the lack of national suffrage for Black Americans seemed illogical and unfair—the North required it in Southern states but not for their own Black citizens—guaranteeing Black suffrage through an amendment would prevent Southern states from potentially reversing course later.

The push for Black suffrage was risky for Republicans. More Democrats had taken office in 1867, and not all Republicans supported Black suffrage. Some Republicans argued that supporting racial equality and voting rights for African Americans had cost the party more votes than it gained, while others emphasized that the Republican Party’s fundamental purpose was to adhere to the principle of human rights. To address these concerns, the Republican Party adopted the position that Black votes were crucial in the South but individual Northern states would be able to decide on the issue for themselves.