Civil War - Presidential Proclamations

On September 15, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued Presidential Proclamation 104 suspending the writ of habeas corpus throughout the United States for persons resisting the draft or for any offense against the military.

The “Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction” was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on December 8, 1863. The President offered amnesty and the restoration of property — except slaves — to certain people who participated in the rebellion against the United States, provided they swore an oath to the United States.

On May 29, 1865, President Andrew Johnson issued Presidential Proclamation 134 granting amnesty to Southern participants in the Civil War, with specified exceptions.

On December 1, 1865, President Andrew Johnson issued Presidential Proclamation 148 revoking the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in the U.S. except in specified states and territories.

On April 2, 1866, President Andrew Johnson issued Presidential Proclamation 153 declaring the Civil War was over and that peace was restored in all areas of the U.S. except the Texas.

On August 20, 1866, U.S. President Andrew Johnson issued Presidential Proclamation 157 declaring that the Civil War was "at an end and that peace, order, tranquillity, and civil authority now exist in and throughout the whole of the United States of America."

On April 15, 1861, the day after the fall of Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 militia from the states still aligned with the Union to quell the rebellion by states that had seceded.

On May 19, 1862, Abraham Lincoln issued a presidential proclamation revoking David Hunter's general order freeing the slaves in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida.

Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862, Presidential Proclamation 93, also known as the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation stated that people held in slavery in areas designated in rebellion against the United States as of January 1, 1863, would be freed from bondage.

On September 24, 1862, Abraham Lincoln issued Presidential Proclamation 94 declaring that people suspected of being disloyal to the U.S. were subject to martial law and that the writ of habeas corpus was suspended for all such persons.

Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation stated that people held in slavery in areas designated in rebellion against the United States to be freed from bondage.

On March 10, 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation offering amnesty to soldiers absent without leave upon returning to their regiments by April 1, 1863.