During Johnson's presidency, Southern state governments ratified the Thirteenth Amendment and supported the rights of African Americans.

Answer 1

Hi, Aniyah. Your statement is true. The presidency of Andrew Johnson aligns with the historical period known as Reconstruction. During this period, the governments of Southern states were 'reconstructed' (hence the name Reconstruction) to ensure the governments of these states were loyal to the United States and no longer loyal to the Confederacy. With the exception of Kentucky and Mississippi, all Southern states ratified the Thirteenth Amendment before 1870 , abolishing slavery in the United States. Black Americans were also allowed to own land, vote in elections and hold public office. Multiple Black Americans were elected to local, state and federal government positions. These rights were lost once again after the Reconstruction period which ended around 1880. Hope that helps! Michael