Question

In early 1867 the First Reconstruction Act was passed by Congress (which then overrode Johnson's veto of the bill). This Act:

1.Divided the South into five districts and sent troops to ensure Southerners gave blacks equal rights and mandated the Southern states create new constitutions.
2.Created new state constitutions for all Southern states and mandated that each state ratify and accept it before being admitted.
3.Readmitted all Southern states provided they ratified the 14th Amendment.
4.Declared Southern states conquered territory, redrew their boundaries and mandated they apply for statehood after ten years of Federal control.
5.Basically was the same as Lincoln's original plan.

Answer 1

Hint: The "First Reconstruction Act" (also known as the "Military Reconstruction Act") became law on March 2, 1867 due to the veto of President Andrew Johnson. The bill applies to all former Confederate states in the South, but Tennessee has approved the Fourteenth Amendment.

Complete answer:
The first bill requires the division of 10 of the "rebellious countries" into five military-controlled zones; only Tennessee is excluded because it has been readmitted. It also requires states to formulate new constitutions, which must include universal male voting rights and require approval by the US Congress. In addition, they must approve the Fourteenth Amendment, which gives African Americans and former slaves citizenship and equal civil and legal rights. After completing the requirements, the states will rejoin the Union.

Congress approved the bill in February 1867, and then overturned Johnson's veto on March 2. Three more bills (two bills in 1867 and one bill in 1868) were enacted later on how to create and pass a constitution at the state level. The constitutionality of the military occupation of the south had caused legal proceedings (Ex Parte McCardle), and thus the legitimacy of reconstruction measures has been questioned. The lawsuit was filed under the Habeas corpus Act of 1867. The radical Republicans responded by depriving the Supreme Court of the power to hear appeals involving the bill. Congress again overturned Johnson's veto power. In 1869, the court rejected the case, saying it lacked jurisdiction.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note:Ex Parte McCardle (1869), the Supreme Court of the United States refused to hear cases involving the Reconstruction Act. The rejection of the court signified the radical Republican Party’s supreme power to determine national policy.