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Re-admitted - I thought they never left But I can't seem to find anything in the Constitution that empowers the federal government to convert states into military districts, or to FORCE them to ratify amendments.

Article II in the Vaporware section, near Executive suspension of habeas corpus.

Today our third party quotee has a different version of history yet again. My understanding was that the states didn't need to be kicked out of the Union for passage of the 13th, which passed voluntarily with the votes of the former rebels. It was the inability to ratify the 14th that led to the 'readmission' requirement being levied. Even then, the 14th was passed only by ignoring revocation of prior ratifications by Northern states.

My understanding was that the states didn't need to be kicked out of the Union for passage of the 13th, which passed voluntarily with the votes of the former rebels. It was the inability to ratify the 14th that led to the 'readmission' requirement being levied. Even then, the 14th was passed only by ignoring revocation of prior ratifications by Northern states.

If the states could change their mind about ratifying the 14th - and their LAST vote be legal, why wouldn't their vote in 1861 to leave be legal???? Inquiring minds and all that...