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Primary sourceDocument1866

Proclamation 153

Andrew Johnson · 1866

A presidential proclamation by Andrew Johnson declaring the insurrection in the Southern states at an end.

Johnson issued this proclamation as President, declaring the end of the Confederate insurrection in most Southern states.

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What it is

This is a formal proclamation issued by President Andrew Johnson in 1866, part of a series of official statements ending the state of rebellion declared at the start of the Civil War. It reviews earlier proclamations from 1861 that had declared the Southern states in rebellion.

Why it matters

By declaring the insurrection over, Johnson signaled that the Union considered the Civil War legally finished in most Southern states, a key step in his Reconstruction policy of restoring normal government quickly. It shows how presidential proclamations were used to manage the legal transition from war to peace.

Look closer

  • Why does the proclamation carefully list earlier proclamations from 1861?
  • What might it mean for a government to declare a war

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