Changes

Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 to establish the rights of blacks to testify in court, make contracts, and hold property.  President Johnson vetoed the bill, but Republicans enjoyed such a large majority in Congress that it then passed the bill over Johnson's veto (with a 2/3rds majority, which is known as "overriding the veto").   

Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 to establish the rights of blacks to testify in court, make contracts, and hold property.  President Johnson vetoed the bill, but Republicans enjoyed such a large majority in Congress that it then passed the bill over Johnson's veto (with a 2/3rds majority, which is known as "overriding the veto").   

The United States divided the South into five military districts by passing the Military Reconstruction Act in 1867.  The federal government then sent in federal troops (the army) to govern each military district.  This was humiliating to the South.  Many northerners (who given the derogatory name "carpetbaggers") moved to the South to form quasi-military governments, often at the expense of southern taxpayers.  The term "carpetbaggers" is still used today to describe any politician who moves to a new state to be elected to office (as Hillary Clinton moved to New York to become a U.S. Senator).  "Scalawags" were white southerners who worked with the carpetbaggers in the South during Reconstruction.   

The United States divided the South into five military districts by passing the Military Reconstruction Act in 1867.  The federal government then sent in federal troops (the Union army) to govern each military district.  This was humiliating to the South.  Many northerners (who given the derogatory name "carpetbaggers") moved to the South to form quasi-military governments, often at the expense of southern taxpayers.  The term "carpetbaggers" is still used today to describe any politician who moves to a new state to be elected to office (as when Hillary Clinton moved to New York to become a U.S. Senator in 2000, as a stepping stone to her presidential campaign in 2008).  "Scalawags" were white southerners who worked with the carpetbaggers in the South during Reconstruction.   

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution banned slavery, and it was ratified quickly.  The 14th Amendment was ratified with more difficulty, and it is a complex Amendment that protects many rights of citizens against interference by any state.  It was intended to protect the former slaves and give Congress special powers to protect them further.  Congress provided additional protection in the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which prohibited racial discrimination in hotels, theaters, public transit, employment and other public places, and establishes right of former slaves to serve on juries.  But later the Supreme Court held the Civil Rights Act to be unconstitutional.

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution banned slavery, and it was ratified quickly.  The 14th Amendment was ratified with more difficulty, as it is a complex Amendment that protects many rights of citizens against interference by any State.  It was intended to protect the former slaves and give Congress special powers to protect them further, but in recent years has been expanded by the courts to apply in ways never intended (such as abortion).  Congress provided additional protection in the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which prohibited racial discrimination in hotels, theaters, public transit, employment and other public places, and established the right of former slaves to serve on juries.  But later the Supreme Court held the Civil Rights Act to be unconstitutional.

Southern whites interfered with voting (suffrage) by former slaves, and the 15th Amendment was passed to protect that right.  Much later, in 1964, the 24th Amendment was passed to ban charging a poll tax to interfere with the right of citizens from voting: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. ... The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."<ref>U.S. Const., 15th Am.</ref>

Southern whites interfered with voting (suffrage) by former slaves, and the 15th Amendment was passed to protect that right.  Much later, in 1964, the 24th Amendment was passed to ban charging a poll tax to interfere with the right of citizens from voting: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. ... The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."<ref>U.S. Const., 15th Am.</ref>