Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Abraham Lincoln reluctantly signs a bill into law allowing Federal commanders to seize slaves from people supporting the Confederacy. But this law does not provide clear enforcement guidelines, thus raising constitutional concerns.
165 YEARS AGO: General Benjamin F. Butler pushes the Lincoln administration to set a firm policy regarding fugitive slaves behind Federal lines.
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: The 37th Congress of the United States assembles at President Abraham Lincoln’s request. The Republicans hold a strong majority, but they are split between conservatives wanting to wage war only to reunite the Union and radicals seeking to wage war to end slavery.
President Andrew Johnson continues efforts to quickly restore the Union by endorsing Abraham Lincoln’s Ten-Percent Plan, recognizing new state governments, and reinstating officials loyal to the U.S. While Radical Republicans seek harsh penalties for the South, Johnson signals leniency toward soldiers and civilians.
Abraham Lincoln’s death means that a southern Democrat will become the next U.S. president, much to the dismay of northerners hoping to punish the South.
President Abraham Lincoln unveils a new plan for slave emancipation, and members of Congress demand to know what happened at Hampton Roads.