Thaddeus Stevens

Thaddeus Stevens (April 4, 1792 – August 11, 1868) was an American politician and lawyer who served in the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. He was one of the leaders of the Radical Republican faction within the Republican Party during the 1860s. Stevens strongly opposed slavery and worked hard to protect the rights of Black Americans after the American Civil War.

Born in rural Vermont, Stevens faced challenges from a young age due to a club foot. He moved to Pennsylvania and became a successful lawyer in Gettysburg. He entered politics and became an important voice for free public education. Later, he moved to Lancaster and continued his fight against slavery.

During the Civil War, Stevens served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He helped manage the country's money and pushed for ending slavery and giving equal rights to freed people. After President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, Stevens clashed with President Andrew Johnson, who wanted to bring Southern states back into the Union without strong protections for freed people. Stevens led efforts in Congress to oppose Johnson and worked toward holding him accountable for his actions.

Early life and education

Thaddeus Stevens was born on April 4, 1792, in Danville, Vermont. He was named after a Polish general who fought in the American Revolutionary War, Tadeusz "Thaddeus" Kościuszko. Thaddeus had a condition called a club foot, which made life difficult for him. His family moved to Peacham, Vermont so he could attend school. Despite facing teasing from other students, he was very determined to learn.

After finishing school, Thaddeus went to the University of Vermont, but his studies were interrupted when the buildings were used during the War of 1812. He then went to Dartmouth College and graduated in 1814. After speaking at his graduation, he returned to Peacham to teach and began studying to become a lawyer. Soon after, he moved to York, Pennsylvania to teach and continue his legal studies.

Pennsylvania attorney and politician

Stevens began his journey to becoming a lawyer in Pennsylvania. He studied at York Academy and later traveled to Harford County, Maryland, where he obtained permission to practice law by presenting himself and some wine to the examining board. He then moved to Gettysburg, where he started his law practice in 1816.

At first, Stevens struggled to gain clients, but his reputation grew after defending a farmer who had been jailed for debt and later killed one of his jailers. Though Stevens lost the case, his bravery impressed the local community, and he soon had many cases. He became known for his sharp wit and strong opinions, which later helped him in politics. Stevens was also passionate about education and worked hard to improve schools in Pennsylvania, helping to establish public schooling for all children.

Stevens was involved in many political movements, including the Anti-Masonry movement, which opposed the secret society of Masons. He became a leader in this cause and spoke out strongly against them. Later, he moved to Lancaster, where he continued his law practice and political work, eventually becoming one of the most successful lawyers in the area.

Abolitionist and prewar congressman

In the 1830s, many people did not want to end slavery right away. Thaddeus Stevens became one of the early leaders fighting against slavery. He believed strongly that everyone should have equal rights, no matter their background.

Stevens worked hard to protect the rights of African Americans. He helped people escape slavery through a secret network called the Underground Railroad. He also stood up for equal voting rights and treated everyone fairly in his workplace.

Stevens was first elected to Congress in 1848. He spoke out against laws that allowed slavery to spread and warned that these laws could lead to big problems in the country. Even though some people disagreed with him, he kept fighting for what he believed was right.

After leaving Congress for a while, Stevens joined new groups that also opposed slavery. He returned to Congress in 1858 and was elected again in 1860, just as tensions over slavery were reaching a breaking point in the nation.

American Civil War

Slavery

When the Civil War began in April 1861, Thaddeus Stevens believed the Confederates needed to be stopped by force. He thought that by making war, they had lost the protection of the U.S. Constitution, and that slavery should end in any rebuilt United States. He was appointed chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, giving him control over the House's plans.

Stevens pushed hard for laws to take property, including slaves, from rebels. He also wanted all slaves to be freed, though this didn’t happen right away. Over time, laws were passed to end slavery in Washington, D.C., and in areas not part of any state. Stevens was upset that President Lincoln moved slowly on ending slavery. Even so, Stevens used Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in his re-election campaign. He kept pushing for Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to end slavery completely. This finally happened with the Thirteenth Amendment, which officially ended slavery. After that, Stevens also pushed for rights and help for freed slaves.

Financing the war

Stevens helped create laws to pay for the Civil War. He worked quickly to get money for soldiers and to allow the government to borrow funds. He also helped pass important laws, like the Legal Tender Act of 1862, which allowed the government to print paper money. Stevens supported higher taxes on goods, especially iron, to help pay for the war efforts.

Reconstruction

Main article: Reconstruction Era

After the Civil War, there was a big debate about how to bring the Southern states back into the United States and what to do about the people who had been slaves. Thaddeus Stevens wanted a big change. He believed the Southern states should be treated like places that had lost their rights, and that the government needed to make sure freed slaves got fair treatment and rights.

Stevens worked hard to make sure the Southern states had to follow new rules. He wanted land taken from big plantation owners to be given to freed slaves so they could start new lives. He also pushed for laws that would give African-Americans equal rights and protect them from unfair treatment. Stevens was very strong in his beliefs and worked with other leaders to make sure these changes happened, even when they faced opposition from the president and others who didn't agree with them.

Impeaching President Johnson

Main articles: Efforts to impeach Andrew Johnson, Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, and Impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson

See also: 1868 impeachment managers investigation and Timeline of the impeachment of Andrew Johnson

Thaddeus Stevens strongly believed that President Andrew Johnson needed to be removed from office. He thought Johnson was not following the laws passed by Congress and was working against the rights of freed people after the Civil War.

Stevens helped lead the effort in the House of Representatives to impeach Johnson. Despite his poor health, Stevens worked hard to support impeachment, even speaking in favor of it though others were less sure. The House voted to impeach Johnson, but when the trial happened in the Senate, Johnson was not removed from office. Some senators did not agree with impeaching the president, and the vote was not high enough to convict him. Stevens was very disappointed by the result.

Final months and death

Thaddeus Stevens was very unhappy that the Republican Party was not fully supporting voting rights for African Americans. He kept trying to get President Johnson removed from office, but his efforts failed. Stevens was also worried about the violence happening in the South, where some groups were trying to keep control away from African Americans.

Stevens became very sick and stayed in Washington, D.C., unable to travel back to Pennsylvania. Despite his pain, he still met with friends and talked about the upcoming election. He passed away on the night of August 11, 1868. Many people, both Black and white, honored him at his funeral. He was buried in a cemetery that allowed people of all races, showing his belief in equality.

Personal life

Stevens never married, but there were rumors about his long relationship (1848–1868) with his widowed housekeeper, Lydia Hamilton Smith. She was a light-skinned African American. Stevens treated her with great respect, asking his family to call her "Mrs. Smith," which was unusual at the time.

When Stevens passed away, Smith was with him, along with friends and family. Under his will, she could choose between a large sum of money or a smaller yearly allowance, and she also could take furniture from his home. She used the money to buy his house, where she had lived for many years.

Stevens also cared for his two young nephews after their parents passed away. One nephew worked at Stevens's business, while the other studied and later joined his uncle's law practice. During the Civil War, the younger nephew became a captain and sadly passed away in battle.

Historical and popular view

People's opinions about Thaddeus Stevens have changed a lot over time. Early writers who knew him described him as a sincere man who cared deeply about fairness. Some later historians said he felt strongly for African Americans but was also very harsh toward the South.

More recent historians have tried to see Stevens in a fairer light. They note that he was a strong speaker and a clever politician who cared about equality. Movies and books sometimes show him in different ways, but most agree he was one of the most important leaders in Congress during his time.

Legacy

Thaddeus Stevens is remembered today through schools and buildings named after him. In Washington, D.C., there is a school called Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School, which was founded in 1868 as the first school for African-American children in the city.

In 2022, a statue of Stevens was unveiled in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to celebrate his 230th birthday. The statue was made by artist Alex Paul Loza and stands in front of the Adams County Courthouse.