Thirty-Ninth Congress of the United States

Date Span
March 4, 1865 - March 4, 1867
Date Event
House Republicans vote to set up a joint committee to determine the suitability of Southern representation
On an unseasonably warm day, the 39th Congress opens in Washington, DC
In Washington D.C., the House names its nine members of the new Joint Committee on Reconstruction
In Washington D.C., the U.S. Senate names its six members of the new Joint Committee on Reconstruction
- The first session of the 39th Congress is in a two-week holiday recess until January 5, 1866
In Washington, Senator Trumbull introduces measures to extend the authority of the Freedmen's Bureau
- The first session of the 39th Congress is sitting in Washington DC from early January to late July, 1866
In the U.S. Senate, Henry Wilson of Massachusetts proposes the size of the peacetime Army
In Columbus, the Ohio legislature re-elects John Sherman as United States senator
In Washington, the Senate passes measures to extend the authority of the Freedmen's Bureau
In Washington, the House of Representatives votes to confirm the transfer of two Virginia counties to West Virginia.
In Washington, the House of Representatives passes the Freedmen's Bureau Bill
On Abraham Lincoln's birthday, historian George Bancroft delivers a memorial oration before Congress
In Washington, President Johnson vetoes the Freedmen's Bureau Bill
In Washington, the Senate fails to over-ride President Johnson's veto of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill
In Washington, the U.S. Senate confirms the official transfer of two Virginia counties to West Virginia
At the U.S. Capitol, the House of Representatives passes the Civil Rights Bill of 1866
President Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Bill of 1866
Sitting Senator Solomon Foot of Vermont dies at sixty-three years old in his residence in Washington D.C.
In Washington, the U.S. Senate votes to over-ride the presidential veto of the Civil Rights Bill
In Washington, House of Representatives votes to overturn the presidential veto of the Civil Rights Bill
The House of Representatives passes a non-binding resolution that Jefferson Davis be tried for treason
New York U.S. Congressman James Humphrey dies suddenly at his home in Brooklyn.
The second session of the 39th Congress opens in Washington, DC
Senator George Williams of Oregon introduces the "Tenure of Office Act" in the U.S. Senate.
- The second session of the 39th Congress is sitting in Washington, DC
The U.S. Senate passes the initial version of the "Tenure of Office Act" on a vote of twenty-nine for and nine against.
- The second session of the 39th Congress is in a two-week holiday recess until January 4, 1867
- The second session of the 39th Congress is sitting in Washington DC from early January to early March.
The House of Representatives requests its Judiciary Committee to investigate impeachment of President Johnson
Philip Johnson, sitting Pennsylvania Democratic congressman dies suddenly in Washington, D.C.
Thaddeus Stevens introduces the First Reconstruction Bill of 1867 in the House of Representatives.
In Washington, DC, the House of Representatives passes the Reconstruction Bill of 1867.
In Washington, DC, the U.S. Senate passes an amended Reconstruction Bill of 1867.
The compromise "Tenure of Office Act" passes the U.S. Senate by a vote of twenty-two to ten.
The compromise "Tenure of Office Act" passes the House of Representatives by a vote of 112 to 41.
In Washington, DC, the House agrees Senate changes to the Reconstruction Bill and the measure goes to President Johnson for signature.
President Johnson rejects the amended Reconstruction Act and Congress easily over-rides his veto on the same day.
President Johnson rejects the "Tenure of Office Bill" and the Congress over-rides his veto before the day is out.
The 39th Congress restricts the ability of the White House to dismiss the commanding general of the army.
The Fortieth Congress orders its Judiciary Committee to continue impeachment investigations on President Johnson
Democrat George R. Riddle, one of Delaware's sitting U.S. Senators, dies suddenly in Washington, D.C.
Elijah Hise, a sitting Kentucky congressman, commits suicide at his home in Russellville.
United States Capitol, Washington DC
Date Title
Andrew Johnson, "Message to Congress respecting the condition of affairs in the Southern States," December 18, 1865
Lyman Trumbull, Introduction of the Civil Rights Bill, U.S. Senate, January 29, 1866
Willard Saulsbury, Debate on the Civil Rights Bill, U.S. Senate, January 29, 1866
Andrew Johnson, Freedmen's Bureau Bill veto message, February 19, 1866
Andrew Johnson, Civil Rights Bill Veto Message, March 27, 1866
George William Curtis, "The Civil Rights Bill," Harper's Weekly Magazine, March 31, 1866, p. 194.
An Act to protect all Persons in the United States in their Civil Rights, and to furnish the means for their Vindication, April 9, 1866
George William Curtis, "The Civil Rights Bill," Harper's Weekly Magazine, April 14, 1866, pp. 226-227.
Conclusions, Majority Report of the Joint Committee on Reconstruction, U.S. Congress, June 16, 1866
James M. Ashley, Motion to Impeach the President of the United States, floor of the House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., January 7, 1867.
United States Congress, "An Act to provide for the more efficient Government of the Rebel States," March 2, 1867.
United States Congress, "An Act regulating the Tenure of certain Civil Offices," March 2, 1867
How to Cite This Page: "Thirty-Ninth Congress of the United States," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/node/45245.