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Emancipation Proclamation issued
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Period: to
Reconstruction TImeline
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Lincoln announces his reconstruction
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Congress tries to pass own bill for reconstruction
The Wade-Davis bill requires the state constitutions to include bans on slavery, disfranchisement of Confederate political and military leaders, and repudiation of Confederate state debts. Lincoln vetoes the bill. -
The Freedmen’s Bureau is created
Provides assistance to emancipated African Americans -
Robert E. Lee surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant
Appomattox Court House -
Lincoln assassinated
VP Johnson becomes President -
13th Amendment ratified
Abolishes slavery in the United States -
Black Codes enacted
Southern states enact laws restricting rights of African Americans -
Congress passes the Freedmen's Bureau Act
Gives the military the responsibility of protecting the civil rights of black Americans.
President Johnson vetoes the bill -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Confers citizenship on African Americans and guarantees equal rights -
Memphis Race Riot
White civilians and police kill 46 African Americans and destroy 90 houses, schools, and four churches -
Congress approves a proposed 14th Amendment
Citizenship in the Constitution: all persons born or naturalized in the United States -
Congress passes the Freedmen's Bureau Act a second time
President Johnson vetoes it again, but this time Congress overrides his veto -
New Orleans Race Riot
Police kill more than 40 black and white Republicans and wound more than 150 -
Ku Klux Klan
A secret organization is founded in Pulaski, Tennessee -
Congress passes the first Reconstruction Act
The former Confederacy is divided into five military districts under the direction of military officers.
President Johnson vetoes the bill, but Congress overrides the veto -
Congress passes the second Reconstruction Act
It gives the military district commanders directions on holding state constitutional conventions.
The president vetoes the bill and Congress overrides his action. -
Congress enacts the third Reconstruction Act
It affirms the authority of the military district commanders to remove state officials from office. -
Congress passes the fourth Reconstruction Act
It allows the proposed state constitutions to be ratified by a simple-majority vote in each state. -
The House of Representatives impeaches President Andrew Johnson
He angered Republicans by his interference with and intransigence on reconstruction policies -
The Senate votes to acquit Johnson
He remains in office, but is denied renomination by the Democratic party -
Fourteenth Amendment ratified
Guarantees due process and equal protection under the law to African Americans -
Ulysses S. Grant elected President
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First black senator elected
Hiram Revels of Mississippi elected to U. S. Senate -
Fifteenth Amendment ratified
Extends the vote to all male citizens regardless of racer or previous condition of servitude -
Civil Rights Act of 1875 enacted by Congress
Guarantees equal rights to African Americans in public accommodations and jury service