thaddeus stevens, the chairman of the ways and means committee. in the senate people like charles sumner. and they really drove the agenda and pushed the lincoln administration not only to prosecute the war more vigorously, but to have reconstruction after a war that was not so lenient toward southern state, not going to ensure that political rights were extended to african-americans. >> the war ends in 1865. i have you get to be first african-american members of congress? it does not happen right that day. >> it did not happen right that day. after lincoln was assassinated, president johnson takes over and has an even more lenient view than lincoln of how the southern states are going to be readmitted, and he is pushed constantly by the radical republicans and in a short time, roughly for five years, they pass a series of constitutional amendments and laws that ring about the equality of african-americans in the south and that starts with the passage of the 13th amendment and that is ratified later that year, banning slavery, outlawing slavery on

these were radicals in the house like thaddeus stevens who was chairman of the ways & means committee and a very powerful leader. also people like henry winter-davis, alihu washburn. in the senate, people like charles sumner and benjamin wade. and they really drove the agenda and pushed the lincoln administration to not only prosecute the war more vigorously but also to have a reconstruction after the war that was one that was not so lenient toward southern states and was going to ensure that political rights were extended to african-americans. >> well, so the war ends in 1 1865, but how do you get from 1865 to the first african-american members of congress? because it's not -- doesn't happen right that day. >> doesn't happen right away, but the -- the role of radicals, if anything, becomes even more assertive after the end of the war. after lincoln's assassinated president johnson takes over and has an even more lenient view than lincoln of how the southern states are going to be readmitted and he's pushed constantly by the radical republicans. and in a very short period of time, rou

these were radicals in the house like thaddeus stevens who was chairman of the ways & means committeend a very powerful leader. also people like henry winter-davis, alihu