what did southern states have to do to rejoin the union
Southern states had to meet certain requirements in order to rejoin the Union. These requirements primarily focused on three key aspects:
1. Abolition of Slavery: One of the major conditions was the abolition of slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, had declared the enslaved people in Confederate-held territories to be free. However, to fully comply with the Union's terms, the Southern states had to ratify the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which officially abolished slavery throughout the country.
2. Repudiation of Secession: Southern states had to repudiate secession and formally acknowledge the sovereignty of the United States. This meant that they had to nullify or repeal their Ordinances of Secession, which they had previously enacted to leave the Union.
3. Acceptance of Federal Authority: The Southern states were required to accept federal authority and submit to the Constitution and laws of the United States. This meant recognizing the authority of the Union government and relinquishing any claims to sovereignty or independence.
Furthermore, in order to fully reintegrate into the Union, the Southern states also had to establish new state governments, ratify the Fourteenth Amendment (granting equal protection under the law to all citizens), and ensure the protection of civil rights for freed slaves.
The specific requirements and timeline for readmission varied from state to state. The process of Reconstruction, which occurred from 1865 to 1877, aimed to achieve these goals and reintegrate the seceded Southern states back into the Union.