Reconstruction - Andrew Johnson vs. the Radical Republicans - Class 14

Explore the complex political battles of Reconstruction in this 57-minute university lecture examining the fierce conflict between President Andrew Johnson and the Radical Republicans. Delve into the contested nature of post-Civil War America as Professor David Blight analyzes the various forms Reconstruction took and the fundamental disagreements over how to rebuild the nation. Learn about the political maneuvering, ideological clashes, and power struggles that shaped this critical period in American history, when competing visions for the country's future collided in the aftermath of the Civil War. Understand how the tension between presidential authority and congressional power played out during one of the most transformative eras in U.S. history, setting the stage for the eventual emergence of Jim Crow laws and the long struggle for civil rights.