Thaddeus Stevens

Thaddeus Stevens
Mathew Benjamin Brady / Levin Corbin Handy · Public domain · source
Name	Thaddeus Stevens
State	Pennsylvania
District	9th
Term	1849-1853, 1859-1868

Thaddeus Stevens was a prominent American Civil War-era politician and leader of the Radical Republicans in the United States House of Representatives. Born on April 4, 1792, in Danville, Vermont, Stevens was a strong advocate for abolition and played a crucial role in shaping the Reconstruction Amendments to the United States Constitution, including the 13th Amendment and the 14th Amendment. He was a close ally of President Abraham Lincoln and later President Andrew Johnson, although their relationship deteriorated over issues of Reconstruction. Stevens was also a strong supporter of the Homestead Act and the Land-Grant Colleges, which were championed by Justin Smith Morrill.

● Early Life and Education

Stevens was born in Danville, Vermont, to Joshua Stevens and Sarah Morrill Stevens, and was the second of four children. He attended Burlington College (now University of Vermont) and later Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 1814. After college, Stevens moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and later Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he became a successful Lawyer and Politician. He was influenced by the Whig Party and its leaders, including Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. Stevens was also a strong supporter of the American Colonization Society, which aimed to establish a colony for African Americans in Liberia.

● Career

Before entering politics, Stevens worked as a Lawyer in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and later Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was a strong advocate for Public Education and helped establish the Lancaster County public school system. Stevens was also a successful Businessman and invested in the Iron Industry, which was a significant sector in Pennsylvania during the Industrial Revolution. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature and served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1833 to 1835, and later in the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1837 to 1841. Stevens was influenced by the Anti-Masonic Party and its leaders, including William Henry Harrison and John Quincy Adams.

● Congressional Career

Stevens was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1848, representing the 9th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. He served from 1849 to 1853 and later from 1859 until his death in 1868. During his time in Congress, Stevens was a strong advocate for abolition and played a crucial role in shaping the Reconstruction Amendments to the United States Constitution. He was a close ally of President Abraham Lincoln and later President Andrew Johnson, although their relationship deteriorated over issues of Reconstruction. Stevens was also a strong supporter of the Homestead Act and the Land-Grant Colleges, which were championed by Justin Smith Morrill. He worked closely with other prominent Radical Republicans, including Charles Sumner and Benjamin Wade.

● Reconstruction Era

During the Reconstruction Era, Stevens played a crucial role in shaping the Reconstruction Amendments to the United States Constitution, including the 13th Amendment and the 14th Amendment. He was a strong advocate for the rights of African Americans and believed that the Freedmen's Bureau should be established to provide assistance to former slaves. Stevens was also a strong supporter of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Reconstruction Acts, which aimed to establish new state governments in the Southern United States. He worked closely with other prominent Radical Republicans, including Charles Sumner and Benjamin Wade, to pass these landmark pieces of legislation. Stevens was a strong critic of President Andrew Johnson's Veto of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and played a crucial role in overriding the veto.

● Death and Legacy

Stevens died on August 11, 1868, in Washington, D.C., and was buried in Shreiner-Concord Cemetery in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was remembered as a strong advocate for abolition and a champion of the rights of African Americans. Stevens' legacy has been recognized by the United States Congress, which established the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is also remembered as a strong supporter of Public Education and the Homestead Act, which were championed by Justin Smith Morrill. Stevens' life and legacy have been the subject of numerous biographies and historical fiction works, including the film Lincoln, which was directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Daniel Day-Lewis as President Abraham Lincoln. Category:American politicians