Wade-Davis Bill
Definition
The Wade-Davis Bill was a proposal for the Reconstruction of the South written by two Radical Republicans, Benjamin Wade and Henry Winter Davis, in 1864. It required 50% of a state's voters to take an "ironclad" oath of allegiance (swearing they had never voluntarily aided the rebellion) before the process of restoration could begin.
Analogy
Think of it like trying to join an exclusive club. You can't just walk in; you have to prove your loyalty first. In this case, half of the state's voters had to swear they were always on the Union's side before they could rejoin.
Related terms
Ironclad Oath: A pledge taken by Southerners that stated they never voluntarily supported the Confederacy during Civil War.
Radical Republicans: A faction within the Republican Party during American Civil War who believed Blacks were entitled to same political rights and opportunities as whites and also believed Confederate leaders should be punished for their roles in Civil War.
Reconstruction Era: The period after American Civil War from 1865-1877 where attempts were made to redress inequities of slavery and its political, social, and economic legacy.
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