[CodeToad]

“They had to ratify the various amendments to regain self government after their insurrection.”

Terrible attempt at bigoted spin since re-admission dates were established, government documents written stating re-admissions, etc.

You just don’t want to admit the southern States were considered having formally left the union because it destroys many of your bigoted arguments including the one you hold dear that the southern states were in a state of insurrection when they actually were a country of their own.

If the States had not actually left the union then the requirements mandated for them to be allowed privileges of a State, such as the mandate that they pass the 13th amendment and the fact that their representatives would not be seated in Congress, would make all such mandates unconstitutional.

South Carolina:
-Seceded: Dec. 20, 1860
-Admitted into C.S.: Feb. 4, 1861
-Readmitted into U.S.: July 9, 1868
-Local rule reestablished: Nov. 28, 1876

Mississippi:
-Seceded: Jan. 9, 1861
-Admitted into C.S.: Feb. 4, 1861
-Readmitted into U.S.: Beg. 23, 1870
-Local rule reestablished: Jan. 4, 1876

Florida:
-Seceded: Jan 10, 1861
-Admitted into C.S.: Feb. 4, 1861
-Readmitted into U.S.: June 25, 1868
-Local rule reestablished: Jan 2, 1877

Alabama:
-Seceded: Jan. 11, 1861
-Admitted into C.S.: Feb. 4, 1861
-Readmitted into U.S.: July 14, 1868
-Local rule reestablished: Nov. 16, 1874

Georgia:
-Seceded: Jan. 19, 1861
-Admitted into C.S.: Feb 4, 1861
-Readmitted into U.S.: July 15, 1870
-Local rule reestablished: Nov. 1, 1871

Louisiana:
-Seceded Jan. 26, 1861
-Admitted into C.S.: Feb. 4, 1861
-Readmitted into U.S.: June 25, 1868 or July 9, 1868
-Local rule reestablished: Jan. 2, 1877

Texas:
-Seceded: Feb. 1, 1861
-Admitted into C.S.: Mar. 2, 1861
-Readmitted into U.S.: Mar. 30, 1870
-Local rule reestablished: Jan. 14, 1873

Virginia:
-Seceded: April 17, 1861
-Admitted into C.S.: May 7, 1861
-Readmitted into U.S.: Jan. 26, 1870
-Local rule reestablished: Oct. 5, 1869

Arkansas:
-Seceded: May 6, 1861
-Admitted into C.S.: May 18, 1861
-Readmitted into U.S.: June 22, 1868
-Local rule reestablished: Nov. 10, 1874

Tennessee:
-Seceded: May 6, 1861
-Admitted into C.S.: May 16, 1861
-Readmitted into U.S.: July 24, 1866
-Local rule reestablished: Oct. 4, 1869

North Carolina:
-Seceded: May 21, 1861
-Admitted into C.S.: May 16, 1861
-Readmitted into U.S.: July 4, 1868
-Local rule reestablished Nov. 28, 1876

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

I'm sure that it will make your head explode, but legally (as the United States saw it), the southern states never left the Union. However, their actions in walking out of congress and then fighting a war meant that their delegations wouldn't be accepted back until they had passed constitutions guaranteeing a republican form of government, per Article IV, Sec. 4 of the Constitution. Further, Article I, Sec. 5 says Congress "shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members."

The dates that are given as "readmission" are actually (and go read the actual laws if you don't believe me) readmission of their delegations to Congress.

An Act to admit the State of Texas to Representation in the Congress of the United States. March 30, 1870

[donmeaker]

Problem is, the date that Kansas was admitted as a state is different from from the date it became part of the US.

In like manner, the date of southern states in insurrection was readmitted as a state is different from the date that it became part of the US.