The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was enacted on April 9th, of 1866 and was a huge accomplishment for the United States and in some peoples eyes one of the most important acts ever passed. This act stated that all u.s citizens were defined equally and also equally protected by the law. The crazy thing is that it gave these rights to everyone including african americans and except for the native americans who had been on the land before we even discovered it. It was introduced in the senate from Lyman Trumbull, a republican from the state of Illinois on January 5, 1866. Southerners were outraged and found many ways to try to avoid and get around the act like making a poll tax, grandfather clause, and literacy test for African Americans voting which made it hard for many muchless any to cast their vote. Andrew Johnson, president vetoed this bill twice and then 2/3rds majority in congress passed the bill. Johnson was later impeached for his violation of Tenure of Office Act.

The 14th Amendment played a large role in reconstruction was well as the 13th and 15th did. Most importantly though it gave more rights to African Americans in the United States. It was adopted on July 9, 1868 and the amendment addresses citizenship rights and also equal protection of the law and also to address slavery issues following the bloody civil war. It was bitterly contested, mostly by the southern states which were forced to ratify it in order to regain representation in congress. The due process law prohibits state and local government officials from depriving persons of life, liberty, or property without legislative authority to due so. congressman John A. Bingham of Ohio was the primary author of the first section of the 14th amendment, also associated with it was senator Jacob Howard of Michigan introduced the bill stating the privelages and immunities of the bill.

Thaddeus Stevens was a member of the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania and one of the most vocal and main leaders of the radical republicans who played a huge role in reconstruction and also in getting the 13th amendment passed. He was a fierce opponent of slavery and discrimination against African Americans in the United States. He sought to secure their rights in reconstruction and had no plans of letting the confederacy rejoin if these needs were not met. He was a chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee during the civil war and played a key role in the wars financing. He argued greatly that slavery should not survive the war and became frustrated with Lincolns slowness to support him and his propositions. He was a radical republican who believed the south should be punished in the south and didnt quite get that but did get the army to occupy the south.