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 credentials of William Byers, a memorial on the members-elect from Arkansas, and a resolution to amend the Constitution to make representation conditional on Black civil rights are received by the Joint Committee and referred to the appropriate Sub-Committees.
Resolved, That an amendment to the Constitution of the United States be submitted to the States for their ratification in one of the two following forms:
Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of citizens of the United States: Provided, That whenever, in any State, civil or political rights or privileges shall be denied or abridged on account of race or color, all persons of such race or color shall be excluded from the basis of representation.
Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of citizens of the United States: Provided, That whenever, in any State, the elective franchise shall be denied or abridged on account of race or color, all persons of such race or color shall be excluded from the basis of representation.