Emancipation Proclamation, Union Policy, and Reconstruction in the United States (1861–1877)

1. First Confiscation Act authorizes limited emancipation

   Aug 6, 1861Labels: First Confiscation, U S

   • Britannica
   • Wikipedia

2. D.C. Compensated Emancipation Act ends slavery in Washington

   Apr 16, 1862Labels: D C, Abraham Lincoln

   • Britannica

3. Congress abolishes slavery in U.S. federal territories

   Jun 19, 1862Labels: Congress, U S

   • UMD Freedmen

4. Second Confiscation Act expands wartime emancipation authority

   Jul 17, 1862Labels: Second Confiscation, U S

   • UMD Freedmen
   • Britannica

5. Militia Act authorizes Black military service and freedom

   Jul 17, 1862Labels: Militia Act, Black soldiers

   • Battlefields
   • Wikipedia

6. Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation sets emancipation ultimatum

   Sep 22, 1862Labels: Preliminary Emancipation, Abraham Lincoln

   • National Archives
   • AP News

7. Emancipation Proclamation takes effect in rebel-held areas

   Jan 1, 1863Labels: Emancipation Proclamation, Union Army

   • National Archives
   • NPS

8. Congress passes Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery

   Jan 31, 1865Labels: Thirteenth Amendment, U S

   • National Archives

9. Freedmen’s Bureau established to aid transition from slavery

   Mar 3, 1865Labels: Freedmen s, War Department

   • National Archives

10. Thirteenth Amendment is ratified, ending slavery nationwide

    Dec 6, 1865Labels: Thirteenth Amendment, United States

    • National Archives
    • Census

11. Civil Rights Act of 1866 becomes law over presidential veto

    Apr 9, 1866Labels: Civil Rights, U S

    • Wikipedia

12. First Reconstruction Act imposes military Reconstruction

    Mar 2, 1867Labels: First Reconstruction, Military Reconstruction

    • Britannica
    • Wikipedia

13. Fourteenth Amendment ratified, guaranteeing citizenship and equal protection

    Jul 9, 1868Labels: Fourteenth Amendment, United States

    • AP News

14. Fifteenth Amendment ratified, prohibiting race-based voting denial

    Feb 3, 1870Labels: Fifteenth Amendment, United States

    • National Archives
    • NPS

15. Ku Klux Klan Act strengthens federal enforcement of rights

    Apr 20, 1871Labels: Ku Klux, U S

    • Britannica
    • Capitol

16. Civil Rights Act of 1875 guarantees equal access to public accommodations

    Mar 1, 1875Labels: Civil Rights, U S

    • Britannica
    • FJC

17. Compromise of 1877 effectively ends Reconstruction governance

    Mar 1, 1877Labels: Compromise of, Presidential Election

    • History com