Abraham Lincoln 1861-1865"And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons." -Emancipation Proclamation, 1863
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The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The document was designed to weaken the confederacy during the civil war by aiming it at the rebellious southern states. The proclamation also brought another motive into the war. It turned the focus to fight for freedom when previously the main focus was to conserve the Union. As it gained popularity, the emancipation Proclamation paved the way for the freedom of slaves and equal rights. |
Andrew Johnson 1865-1869-Daily Ohio statesman., May 16, 1868 |
Andrew Johnson was signed into office after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Soon after Johnson created a Reconstruction policy for the south, congress passed an act to protect senate-confirmed officials and members of Johnson's Cabinet. Johnson failed to abide by this act and became the first U.S president to become impeached. This was the first time the United States had exercised its right to an impeachment trial on a president. |
Ulysses S. Grant 1869-1877-Ulysses S.Grant signing the 15th amendment, 1870
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During reconstruction, the struggle for voting rights for freed slaves was varied. Reconstruction Acts included black suffrage however, the majority of states still refused them the right to vote. To resolve the issue, congress created the 15th amendment to give all males 21 and older the right to vote. In order to ratify the amendment, congress made the ratification of the 14th and 15th a requirement for states to be re-admitted into the union. The image of Ulysses S. Grant signing the 15th amendment shows the division of people during the civil war. The addition of the amendment essentially brought reunited the nation. Even though the country was whole again, many issues arose regarding African-Americans gaining rights. |
Rutherford B. Hayes 1877-1881 |
The election of 1876 was one of the most controversial and debated. Samuel J. Tilden and Rutherford B. Hayes ran a tight race to be the president of the United States. While Tilden, the Democratic candidate, won the popular vote, Hayes, the Republican candidate, won the electoral vote. Accusations from both parties about voter fraud, bribery and intimidation arose. Nonetheless, Rutherford B. Hayes was elected president ad under his presidency reconstruction came to an end. |