Anyone
found without a job could be arrested and fined $50. Those who
could not pay the fine were hired out to anyone in the community
who would pay the fine. This created a new system of forced
labor. At the same time, blacks could be fined for insulting
gestures, breaking the curfew, and for possessing firearms. This
created the kind of supervision of personal life which was
similar to that of slavery. Although the Thirteenth Amendment had
made slavery unconstitutional, the South was trying to recreate
the peculiar institution in law while not admitting it in name.
Radical Republicans in Congress were outraged both at the
unrepentant obstinacy of the South and at the leniency of
Johnson's plan for restoration. After refusing to seat many of
the Southern delegates to Congress the Radical Republicans went
on to pass civil rights legislation which was aimed at protecting
the ex-slave from the black codes. President Johnson, however
vetoed these bills as well as the Fourteenth Amendment. An
enraged Congress passed the civil rights legislation over his
veto and came within one vote of impeaching the President.
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