Historical1866
Tennessee Readmitted to the Union
Tennessee became the first former Confederate state readmitted to the Union after the Civil War, having ratified the 14th Amendment. Unlike other Southern states, Tennessee was not subjected to further Reconstruction requirements because of its early ratification.
Why It Matters
Tennessee's readmission demonstrated the Reconstruction process at work, as states that had seceded took steps to rejoin the Union and accept the constitutional changes that followed the Civil War.