Question

What was one role the military had across the South during Congressional Reconstruction?

A) protecting African Americans’ voting rights
B) overthrowing white governments
C) forcing states to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment
D) ensuring white governments stayed in power

Answer 1

Answer: A) Protecting African Americans’ voting rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Fourteenth Amendment was passed by the Senate on June 8, 1866, and ratified two years later, on July 9, 1868, extending citizenship rights to African Americans and guaranteeing them equal protection of the laws. The 14th Amendment also reduced representation in Congress of any southern state that deprived African Americans of the vote.

Answer 2

The one role that the military had across the South during Congressional Reconstruction was that of forcing states to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment.

Explanation:

• Even after the civil war ended, a few states in the South were hesitant towards accepting the abolishment of slavery.
• President Abraham Lincoln authorized the military to make use of coercion to get the Fourteenth Amendment ratified from the leaders of the states that were hesitant to do so by themselves.
• The military can be said to have succeeded as the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified by all the states before 1869.