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  1. Overview: United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866
  2. Full Record: United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866
  3. Joint Committee of Fifteen on Reconstruction Document Library

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866

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.

Joint Committee of Fifteen on Reconstruction

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.

Committee Document Library View

The list of documents under consideration by committee: Joint Committee of Fifteen on Reconstruction at the end of its timeline.

Appointment of the Sub-Committee to Wait on the President

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 06 Jan 1866, 00:00

Appointment of the Sub-Committee to Wait on the President

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 06 Jan 1866, 00:00

Ordered, That the Chairman, and Messrs. Johnson and Washburne constitute said sub-committee.

Resolution on Amending the Joint Resolution

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 12 Jan 1866, 10:30

Resolution on Amending the Joint Resolution

People: John A. Bingham

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 12 Jan 1866, 10:30

The question was then taken, by yeas and nays, on the resolution as modified, and it was decided in the affirmative, yeas 13, nay 1, not voting 1, as follows: Yeas—The Chairman, Messrs. Grimes, Harris, Howard, Johnson, Williams, Stevens, Washburne,...

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on Apportionment of Representation and Constitutional Amendment

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 12 Jan 1866, 10:30

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on Apportionment of Representation and Constitutional Amendment

People: William P. Fessenden

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 12 Jan 1866, 10:30

The Chairman announced the following as members of the sub-committee: Messrs. Fessenden and Stevens (named in the order of the Joint Committee) and Messrs. Howard, Conkling, and Bingham.

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on Tennessee

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 15 Jan 1866, 11:00

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on Tennessee

People: William P. Fessenden

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 15 Jan 1866, 11:00

The Chairman announced the following as the members of the sub-committees ordered at the last meeting:

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 15 Jan 1866, 11:00

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina

People: William P. Fessenden

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 15 Jan 1866, 11:00

The Chairman announced the following as the members of the sub-committees ordered at the last meeting:

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 15 Jan 1866, 11:00

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas

People: William P. Fessenden

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 15 Jan 1866, 11:00

The Chairman announced the following as the members of the sub-committees ordered at the last meeting:

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on Louisiana, Florida, and Texas

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 15 Jan 1866, 11:00

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on Louisiana, Florida, and Texas

People: William P. Fessenden

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 15 Jan 1866, 11:00

The Chairman announced the following as the members of the sub-committees ordered at the last meeting:

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on the Powers of Congress

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 24 Jan 1866, 00:00

Appointment of the Sub-Committee on the Powers of Congress

People: William P. Fessenden

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 24 Jan 1866, 00:00

The Chairman appointed as the sub-committee Messrs. Bingham, Boutwell and Rogers.

Resolution to Make the Admission of Rebellious States Conditional on Their Acceptance of Constitutional Amendment

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 19 Dec 1865, 00:00

Resolution to Make the Admission of Rebellious States Conditional on Their Acceptance of Constitutional Amendment

Resolution to Keep the Proceedings of the Committee Confidential

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 09 Jan 1866, 10:00

Resolution to Keep the Proceedings of the Committee Confidential

People: William P. Fessenden

Resolution to Alter the Basis of Representation

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 09 Jan 1866, 10:00

Resolution to Alter the Basis of Representation

People: William P. Fessenden

Resolutions on Congress' Role in Former Confederate States

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 10 Jan 1866, 00:00

Resolutions on Congress' Role in Former Confederate States

Resolution Endorsing the President's Annual Message and Denying the Right to Secede

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 10 Jan 1866, 00:00

Resolution Endorsing the President's Annual Message and Denying the Right to Secede

Resolution to Not Exclude Members of Congress from Rebellious States

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 11 Jan 1866, 00:00

Resolution to Not Exclude Members of Congress from Rebellious States

Report Recommending Propositions for Constitutional Amendment

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 20 Jan 1866, 11:00

Report Recommending Propositions for Constitutional Amendment

Article B

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 20 Jan 1866, 11:00

Article B

Resolution to Admit Members-Elect from Rebellious States Immediately

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 23 Jan 1866, 00:00

Resolution to Admit Members-Elect from Rebellious States Immediately

S. Res. 23

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 24 Jan 1866, 00:00

S. Res. 23

Resolution Inquiring into the Possibility of Requiring Disloyal Citizens to Contribute to the Cost of Standing Armies

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 27 Jan 1866, 00:00

Resolution Inquiring into the Possibility of Requiring Disloyal Citizens to Contribute to the Cost of Standing Armies

Article C

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 27 Jan 1866, 00:00

Article C

S. 106

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 30 Jan 1866, 00:00

S. 106

Mr. Howard's Constitutional Amendment

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 03 Feb 1866, 00:00

Mr. Howard's Constitutional Amendment

People: Jacob M. Howard

S. Res. 24

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 08 Feb 1866, 00:00

S. Res. 24

S. Res. 40

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 09 Mar 1866, 00:00

S. Res. 40

H. Res. 89

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 14 Mar 1866, 00:00

H. Res. 89

S. Res. 48

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 17 Mar 1866, 00:00

S. Res. 48

Resolutions to Protect the Freedmen in the Reorganized Rebel States

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 20 Mar 1866, 00:00

Resolutions to Protect the Freedmen in the Reorganized Rebel States

S. Res. 62

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 13 Apr 1866, 00:00

S. Res. 62

H. Res. 109

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 17 Apr 1866, 00:00

H. Res. 109

H. Res. 110

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 17 Apr 1866, 00:00

H. Res. 110

Plan of Reconstruction

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 21 Apr 1866, 11:00

Plan of Reconstruction

People: Thaddeus Stevens

Plan of Reconstruction [As Considered by Sections]

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 21 Apr 1866, 11:00

Plan of Reconstruction [As Considered by Sections]

A Bill to Provide for the Restoration to the States Lately in Insurrection of Their Full Political Rights

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 23 Apr 1866, 10:00

A Bill to Provide for the Restoration to the States Lately in Insurrection of Their Full Political Rights

People: Thaddeus Stevens

S. Res. 76

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

S. Res. 76

A Bill to Declare Certain Persons Ineligible to Office

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

A Bill to Declare Certain Persons Ineligible to Office

H. R. 543

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 29 Jan 1867, 00:00

H. R. 543

Mr. Stevens' Resolution on Reconstruction

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 02 Feb 1867, 00:00

Mr. Stevens' Resolution on Reconstruction

People: Thaddeus Stevens

S. 564

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 06 Feb 1867, 10:00

S. 564

S. 564 [As Amended in the Joint Committee on Reconstruction]

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 06 Feb 1867, 10:00

S. 564 [As Amended in the Joint Committee on Reconstruction]

Credentials of James M. Johnson

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 19 Dec 1865, 00:00

Credentials of James M. Johnson

Credentials of B. Johnson Barbour

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 20 Dec 1865, 00:00

Credentials of B. Johnson Barbour

Credentials of G. H. Kyle

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 21 Dec 1865, 00:00

Credentials of G. H. Kyle

Certificate of Election of H. C. Warmoth

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 21 Dec 1865, 00:00

Certificate of Election of H. C. Warmoth

H. Res. 31

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 09 Jan 1866, 10:00

H. Res. 31

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 12 Jan 1866, 10:30

[Editors' note: It is not clear whether H. Res. 31 was included with the documents that were referred to the sub-committee or not. However, since it is a proposed constitutional amendment on apportionment of representation in Congress, we have chosen...

Mr. Stevens' Constitutional Amendment

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 09 Jan 1866, 10:00

Mr. Stevens' Constitutional Amendment

People: Thaddeus Stevens

Credentials of James Farrow

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 12 Jan 1866, 10:30

Credentials of James Farrow

Credentials of John D. Kennedy

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 12 Jan 1866, 10:30

Credentials of John D. Kennedy

Mr. Bingham's Constitutional Amendment

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 12 Jan 1866, 10:30

Mr. Bingham's Constitutional Amendment

People: John A. Bingham

Mr. Stevens' Second Constitutional Amendment

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 12 Jan 1866, 10:30

Mr. Stevens' Second Constitutional Amendment

People: Thaddeus Stevens

Credentials of William Byers

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 16 Jan 1866, 00:00

Credentials of William Byers

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 16 Jan 1866, 00:00

[Editors' note: We have assumed that all documents referred to the Joint Committee of Fifteen were further referred to the appropriate sub-committee to be examined.]

Memorial on the Members-Elect from Arkansas

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 16 Jan 1866, 00:00

Memorial on the Members-Elect from Arkansas

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 16 Jan 1866, 00:00

[Editors' note: We have assumed that all documents referred to the Joint Committee of Fifteen were further referred to the appropriate sub-committee to be examined.]

Resolution to Amend the Constitution to Make Representation Conditional on Black Civil Rights

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 16 Jan 1866, 00:00

Resolution to Amend the Constitution to Make Representation Conditional on Black Civil Rights

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 16 Jan 1866, 00:00

[Editors' note: We have assumed that all documents referred to the Joint Committee of Fifteen were further referred to the appropriate sub-committee to be examined.]

Article C

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 20 Jan 1866, 11:00

Article C

S. Res. 22

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 20 Jan 1866, 11:00

S. Res. 22

People: William P. Fessenden

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 20 Jan 1866, 11:00

[Editors' note: Article B had a title and resolving clause added and was reported to the Senate as S. Res. 22.]

H. Res. 51

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 20 Jan 1866, 11:00

H. Res. 51

People: Thaddeus Stevens

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 20 Jan 1866, 11:00

[Editors' note: Article B had a title and resolving clause added and was reported to the House as H. Res. 51.]

Minority Report of the Joint Committee on Reconstruction on H. Res. 51

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 20 Jan 1866, 11:00

Minority Report of the Joint Committee on Reconstruction on H. Res. 51

People: Andrew J. Rogers

H. Res. 51

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 31 Jan 1866, 00:00

H. Res. 51

Credentials of Six Members-Elect from Alabama

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 08 Feb 1866, 00:00

Credentials of Six Members-Elect from Alabama

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 08 Feb 1866, 00:00

[Editors' note: We have assumed that all contested election documents referred to the Joint Committee of Fifteen were further referred to the appropriate sub-committee to be examined.]

S. Res. 30

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 10 Feb 1866, 00:00

S. Res. 30

People: William P. Fessenden

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 10 Feb 1866, 00:00

[Editors' note: Article C had a title and resolving clause added and was then reported to the Senate as S. Res. 30.]

H. Res. 63

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 10 Feb 1866, 00:00

H. Res. 63

People: Thaddeus Stevens

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 10 Feb 1866, 00:00

[Editors' note: Article C had a title and resolving clause added and was then reported to the Senate as H. Res. 63.

H. Res. 63

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 14 Feb 1866, 00:00

H. Res. 63

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 25 Feb 1866, 00:00

[Editors' note: H. Res. 63 was recommitted to the Joint Committee on Reconstruction strategically, since they retain the right to report at any time. It is not formally discussed again in Committee, so we have chosen to model it being referred back to...

S. Res. 78

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

S. Res. 78

People: William P. Fessenden

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

[Editors' note: The Plan for Reconstruction was reported to the Senate as S. Res 78.]

H. Res. 127

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

H. Res. 127

People: Thaddeus Stevens

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

[Editors' note: The Plan for Reconstruction was reported to the House as H. Res. 127.]

S. 292

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

S. 292

People: William P. Fessenden

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

[Editors' note: This bill was reported to the Senate as S. 292.]

H. R. 543

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

H. R. 543

People: Thaddeus Stevens

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

[Editors' note: This bill was reported to the House of Representatives as H. R. 543.]

S. 293

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

S. 293

People: William P. Fessenden

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

[Editors' note: The bill had a title added and was reported to the Senate as S. 293.]

H. R. 544

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

H. R. 544

People: Thaddeus Stevens

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 28 Apr 1866, 10:30

[Editors' note: The bill had a title added and was reported to the House of Representatives as H. R. 244.]

Report of the Joint Committee on Reconstruction on on H. Res. 127 [S. Res. 78], H. R. 543 [S. 292], and H. R. 544 [S. 293]

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 06 Jun 1866, 00:00

Report of the Joint Committee on Reconstruction on on H. Res. 127 [S. Res. 78], H. R. 543 [S. 292], and H. R. 544 [S. 293]

People: William P. Fessenden James W. Grimes George S. Boutwell Ira Harris Justin S. Morrill Thaddeus Stevens Roscoe Conkling George H. Williams John A. Bingham Jacob M. Howard

H. R. 1143

Creator event:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 06 Feb 1867, 10:00

H. R. 1143

Last decision:

United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866, Date: 06 Feb 1867, 10:00

[Editors' note: S. 564 as amended was then reported to the House as H. R. 1143.]