What requirement was established by the Reconstruction Act of 1867 for Southern states to rejoin the Union?

The Reconstruction Act of 1867 established several conditions that Southern states had to meet in order to be readmitted to the Union after the Civil War. One key requirement was the provision for voting rights. Specifically, the Act mandated that Southern states had to draft new constitutions that would guarantee the right to vote for all men, regardless of race. This marked a significant shift in the political landscape of the South, as it aimed to include freed African American men in the electoral process and ensure their participation in governance.

The emphasis on allowing all men to vote was a crucial step towards civil rights, as it attempted to dismantle the structures that enforced racial discrimination and disenfranchisement. This requirement was part of a broader strategy to restructure Southern society in a way that upheld the rights of formerly enslaved individuals and aimed to integrate them into the political fabric of the nation.

The other options do not align with the specific mandates established by the Reconstruction Acts. While the abolition of slavery was crucial and occurred earlier with the 13th Amendment, it was not a stipulation of the Reconstruction Act itself. Equal representation in Congress was sought through the inclusion of Southern representatives after meeting the Act's conditions, but it was not a direct requirement. Immediate ratification of the