So if your saying that they were states but did NOT have recognized representation for 7-8 years, and would NOT be recognized until they met certain criteria, they weren't really states now, were they?
The representives of the confederate states, for the most part, were gone over the span of two congresses. Those states did not send duly elected members to Washington. Every two years when a new congress is conviened, all 435 members must be seated and sworn in as the legitimate representative from their district and the election was conducted fairly and certified by designated body of that state's government. Same goes for 1/3 of the Senate every 2 years.
The decision to admit members is entirely up to the house and senate.
The southern states voluntarily withdrew their congressional representatives when they launched their rebellion. Once their uprising was defeated their representatives were let back in on very moderate terms. However, the southern states abused the spirit of the 13th Amendment with their black codes and with race riots and Reconstruction was the result.
So if your saying that they were states but did NOT have recognized representation for 7-8 years, and would NOT be recognized until they met certain criteria, they weren't really states now, were they?
They certainly were, but Congress sets its own rules and they were well within their rights to refuse to admit southern representatives who had participated in the rebellion or were leaders of the rebellion.