Epilogue: Civil War Reconstruction
1865 to 1877

May 17, 1865.   Gen. Philip Sheridan is appointed commander of the district west of the Mississippi and south of the Arkansas River.   Because of his large destruction in the Shenandoah Valley, he meets with considerable southern resistance. ^{Bowman 268}

May 22, 1865.

Pres. Johnson declares that as of July 1, all southern seaports except four in Texas will be opened for trade.   Also, all restrictions on civilian trade east of the Mississippi River will be lifted except for war contraband. ^{Bowman 268}

May 27, 1865.   With a few exceptions, Pres. Johnson releases all Confederate prisoners held in military prisons. ^{Bowman 269}

May 29, 1865.   With a few exceptions involving large property owners and holders of high rank in the civilian and military Confederate government, who must apply individually, Pres. Johnson issues a general amnesty to all Confederates.   After an oath of allegiance to the Union, all property except slaves will be fully restored. ^{Bowman 269}

June 6, 1865.   Missouri, ratifies its new state constitution, so it is readmitted to the Union.   Pres. Johnson offers amnesty to all prisoners of war who take an oath that they never fought against the Union voluntarily.   Once the oath is taken, they are released. ^{Schles 294}

June 13, 1865.   Pres. Johnson names 6 provisional governors to former Confederate states: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas.   These governors are to arrange for conventions to meet the requirements for readmission to the Union.   Tennessee is readmitted to the union, since it has restored its own government. ^{Schles 294}

June 30, 1865.   In Washington, the 8 conspirators in the Lincoln assasination are found guilty.   4 are to be imprisoned and 4 are to be hanged. ^{Bowman 269}

July 1, 1865.   Pres. Johnson opens all southern ports to foreign shipping ^{Schles 294}   as of 1 September. ^{Bowman 270}

July 7, 1865.

Washington, Old Penitentiary Building:   Four of the conspirators, Lewis Paine, George Azerodt, David Herold, and Mary Surratt, are hanged.   The other four, Michael O'Laughlin, Dr. Samuel Mudd, Edward Spangler, and Samuel Arnold, are imprisoned at Fort Jefferson on Dry Tortugas Island in the Florida Keys. ^{Bowman 269}

September 5, 1865.   South Carolina repeals its ordinance of scesssion, declaring it null and void. ^{Schles 295}

November 24, 1865.   In Mississippi, Black Codes are created by whites that forbid blacks to testify against whites, make blacks without work subject to arrest for vagrancy, separate black and white schools, and blacks cannot serve on juries, bear arms, or hold large meetings. ^{Schles 295}   These codes are the beginning of what later would be called "discrimination" and "Jim Crow" laws of southern states.   The confederate raider, CSS Shenandoah, surrenders to the British at Liverpool, England.   Capt. Henry Wirz, commander of the infamous confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia, is hanged after being found guilty of cruelty to federal prisoners of war. ^{Bowman 270}

December 1, 1865.   The writ of habeas corpus, suspended by the late Pres. Lincoln during the war, is restored by Pres. Johnson. ^{Schles 295}

December 2, 1865.   The 13th amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery is ratified by 2/3 of the states with Alabama's ratification. ^{Carruth 292}   The amendment is effective on December 18 with the ratification declaration by Secretary of State, Seward. ^{Schles 296}

December 4, 1865.   Under the guidance and Chair of Congressman Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania, a Joint Committee of Reconstruction, called the Committee of Fifteen, 9 Republicans and 6 Democrats, attempts to impose strong restrictions on the southern states under Reconstruction, especially with regard to black rights, in contrast to the more concilliatory attitude of Pres. Johnson. ^{Schles 295}

December 6, 1865.   The 13th Amendment is ratified by 2/3 of the states and becomes a part of the Constitution.

December 12, 1865.   The Senate agrees to the joint Committee of Reconstruction under the Chair of Senator William P. Fessenden of Maine. ^{Schles 295}

December 18, 1865.   The 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery is ratifies by 2/3 of the states to become law.

December 24, 1865.   In Tennessee, the Ku Klux Klan is formed by Thomas M. Jones, James R. Crowe, and others with its main goal of repression of blacks. ^{Schles 296}

February 19, 1866.   Congress extends the scope and authority of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, known as the Freedmen's Bureau.   It is concerned with the condition, treatment and rights of blacks.   It now would have the power to indict people who deprive blacks of their civil rights and would continue to give food, clothing and shelter to people in need.   Pres. Johnson vetoes the bill, explaining that it is unconsitutional because it expands federal jurisdiction to states that still have no representatives in Congress.   Aside from constitutionality, he then says that the freedmen should manage through their own efforts and merits.   Congress overrides the vetoe on July 10. ^{Schles 304}

March 2, 1866.   Congress accepts the resolution from the Joint Committee on Reconstruction, which states that confederate states will not be seated in Congress until admitted by Congress itself.   However, it does produce guidelines for admission. ^{Schles 304}

April 2, 1866.   Pres. Johnson declares an end of the insurrection (war) in 10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.   Texas will be included to this list on August 20. ^{Schles 304}

April 9, 1866.   The Civil Rights bill of 1866 is enacted by Congress.   Its intention is to enforce the provisions of the 13th amendment that freed the slaves that has been violated by southerners who are suppressing blacks.   Arguing states' rights, limitations of federal power, and adding too much power to blacks vis a vis whites, Johnson had vetoed the bill previously. ^{Schles 305}

June 13, 1866.   Because of continued suppression of black rights in spite of the 13th amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, Congress proposes the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.   It provides constitutional definitions of civil rights.   Northern congressmen also are attempting to maintain control over legislation by keeping southern Democrats out of Congress and give northern businessmen more opportunities to exploit southern resources. ^{Schles 305}

July1, 1866.   Tennessee is the first state to ratify the 14th Amendment. ^{Schles 306}

July 24, 1866.   Tennessee is readmitted to the Union. ^{Schles 306}

August 20, 1866.   The end of insurrection is declared for Texas.   Since all former confederate states are declared not in a state of insurrection, this date can be considered the end of the Civil War. ^{Schles 306}

January 8, 1867.   Suffrage is granted to blacks in Washington, D.C., as Congress overrides another Pres. Johnson veto. ^{Schles 307}

January 31, 1867.   Suffrage is granted to all males over 21 in the United States. ^{Schles 307}

March 2, 1867.   The First Reconstruction Act is passed by Congress over Pres. Johnson's veto.   It divides all the former confederate states with "provisional" governments into 5 military districts, except Tennessee, which already was accepted into the Union.   Each state will be governed by a military General appointed by the President.   A condition of readmission to the Union is ratification of the 14th Amendment granting suffrage to black males.   Congress also passed the Tenure of Office Act, which denies the President the power to remove officials appointed or approved by Congress.   This act later will become the justification for impeaching the President.   (It will be revoked in 1926.)   Congress passes the Command of the Army Act, which requires the President to pass all military orders through the General of the Army, who at this time is Grant.   Congress removes wartime excise taxes and exempts incomes over $1000 from taxation.   Congress passes the Wool and Woolens Act to increase wool import tariffs that is favorable to northern wool manufacturers. ^{Schles 307}

March 5, 1867.   In Alexandria, VA, 1,000 black votes are rejected as blacks test the Reconstruction Act. ^{Schles 307}

March 11, 1867.   Pres. Johnson appoints the commanders to the 5 military districts.   20,000 troops are stationed throughout the South to register 700,000 black voters and 6,000 white voters.   Coalitions among whites and blacks, "scalawags" in the South, elect representatives who are agreeable to civil rights.   Northern civilians, called "carpetbaggers" in the South, under northern contracts to provide education, food, clothing, and shelter.   Some are honest and others are not. ^{Schles 307}

March 23, 1867.   Congress passes the Second Reconstruction Act over Pres. Johnson's veto.   It gives the military governors the right to establish state conventions for admission to the Union.   Black voting rights are to be protected and blacks may be represented in the state conventions, which they will be. ^{Schles 308}

July 19, 1867.   Congress passes the Third Reconstruction Act over Pres. Johnson's veto.   It affirms the authority of the military district commanders to remove state officials from office.

February 22, 1868.   The House impeaches Pres. Johnson on the grounds that he violated the Tenure of Office Act by removing Secretary of War Stanton over Reconstruction Act policies. ^{Schles 309}

March 9, 1868.   The 14th Amendment is ratified by 2/3 of the states and becomes a part of the Constitution.

March 11, 1868.   Congress passes the Fourth Reconstruction Act.   This law provides that a majority of those voting will suffice to ratify state constitutions for admittance to the Union.   Previously, a majority of half the voters was required, so southern whites stayed away from the polls to subvert black civil rights inclusions to their constitutions. ^{Carruth 298}

March 13, 1868.   The impeachment trial of Pres. Johnson begins.   The Senate acts as jury, the House acts as prosecutor.   The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court acts as judge. ^{Schles 310}

March 16, 1868.   Pres. Johnson is found not guilty by the Senate when the 2/3 vote is denied by the "not guilty" vote of Senator Edmund G. Ross of Kansas.   On May 28, the final vote for acquittal is announced. ^{Schles 310,311}

June 22, 1868.   Arkansas is readmitted to the Union. ^{Schles 311}

September, 1868.   Georgia expels blacks from its legislature. ^{Schles 311}

December 25, 1868.   Pres. Johnson gives general amnesty to all people who participated in the Rebellion. ^{Schles 312}

February 26, 1869.   Congress proposes the 15th Amendment   It attempts to shore up the constitutional protection of black voting rights by stipulating that voting rights cannot be denied on the basis of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."

April 10, 1869.   Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia ratify the 15th Amendment and are readmitted to the Union. ^{Carruth 302}

December 22, 1869.   Georgia is denied representation in Congress because of its dismissal of blacks from its state legislature. ^{Schles 314}

January 26, 1870.   Virginia is allowed representation in Congress on condition that it never change its constitution to deny blacks their vote, hold office, or gain an education. ^{Carruth 304}

February 3, 1870.   The 15th Amendment is ratified by 2/3 of the states and becomes a part of the Constitution.

February 23, 1870.   Mississippi is allowed representation in Congress for the same conditions given to Virginia. ^{Carruth 304}

March 30, 1870.   Texas is allowed representation in Congress under the same conditions as given to Mississippi. ^{Carruth 304}

July 15, 1870.   Georgia is allowed representation in Congress. ^{Carruth 304}

March 1, 1871.   Congress passes a Civil Rights Act, which provides that no citizen can be denied equal use of public facilities and no one can be arbitrarily prevented from jury duty. ^{Schles 328}   In 1883, this law will be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

April 24, 1877.   President Hayes removes federal troops from the last state, Louisiana.   Reconstruction is over. ^{Bowman 277}