An amendment to the Constitution of the United States that granted citizenship and equal rights, both civil and legal, to Black Americans, including those who had been emancipated by the thirteenth amendment.
A special joint committee made up of nine members from the House of Representatives six members of the Senate. This committee was formed to inquire into the condition of the states in rebellion.
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.
The Joint Committee meets; the plan of reconstruction is further divided; the bill to provide for the restoration to the States lately in insurrection of their full political rights (part of the divided plan) is considered.
A Bill to provide for the restoration to the states lately in insurrection of their full political rights.
Whereas, It is expedient that the states lately in insurrection should, at the earliest day consistent with the future peace and safety of the Union, be restored to full participation in all political rights;
And, whereas, the Congress did, by joint resolution, propose for ratification to the legislatures of the several states, as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, an article in the following words, to wit:
"Section 1. No Statediscrimination shall be make or enforce any law which shall abridgede by any State nor by the United States as to the prcivileges or immunities rights of persons because of race, color or previous condition of citizens ofservitude.
"Sec. 2. From and after the United States;fourth day of July in the year 1876 no discrimination shall be made by any Sstate deprive anynor by the United States, as to the enjoyment, by classes of persons, of lifthe right of suffrage, libertycause of race, color or property, wievious condition of servitude.
"Sec. 3. Until the fourth due proceay of July, 1876, no class of law, nor deny topersons, as to the right of any person within its jurisof whom to suffrage discrimination the equal protecshall be made by any state, because of race, color or previous condition of servitude, shall be laws.
Sec. 2. Rincluded in the basis of representatives shall be appon.
"Sec. 4. Debts or obligationed among the several statess already incurred or which may hereafter be includurred within this Unaid of insurrection according to of war against their respective numbers, counting the whole numb Union, and claims for compensation for loss of involuntary service of persons in each Sr labor, shall not be paid by any state excluding Indians not taxed. But whenever in any Snor by the United States.
"Sec. 5. No state the electivshall make or enforce franchisey law which shall be denied to any portion ofabridge the privileges or immunities maleof citizens, not less than twenty-one years of age, or in of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any way abridged, except fperson of life, liberty, or participation in rebellion or other crime,roperty without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the basis of representaequal protection in such Stateof the laws.
"Sec. 6. The Congress shall be reduced in the have power to enforce by approporiate legislation which the numberprovisions of such male citizens shall bear tothis article."
Be it enacted, by the whole numberSenate and House of male citizens not less than twenty-one yearRepresentatives of the United States of age.
Sec. 3. Until tAmerica in Congress assembled, That whenever fourth day of July, in the year 1870, e above recited amendment shall persons who voluntarily adhered to thhave become part of the Constitution, and any state lately in insurrection, giving it aid shall have ratified the same, and comfort, shall be excluded fromhave modified its constitution and laws in conformity with the right to vote ffirst section thereof, the Senators and Representatives in Congress and forfrom such state, if found duly electors for President and Vice-Presidented and qualified, shall, after having taken the required oaths of the Unoffice, be admitted Statinto Congress as such.
Sec. 4. Ne2. And be ither furthe United Str enacted, Thates whenor any Sstate shall assume or pay anlately debt or obligation already incsurred, or which may hereafter be incurrction shall have ratified the foregoing proposed, in aid of imendment to the Constiturrection, orany part of war against the United States, or any claim for compensation for loss of involuntary service or labor.
Sec. 5. Congress shall have power to enforce by apthe direct tax under the act of August 5, 1861, which may remain due and unpaid in such state, may be assumed and paid by such state; and the payment thereof, upon propriate legislation, the provisions of this article."
Be it enacted, byer assurances from such state, to be given to the Senate and Housecretary of Repthe Tresentativesury of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That , may be postponed for a period not exceeding ten years from and after the passage of this act.