From December 25, 2014, Yahoo! News "Three other big historical events that happened on Christmas Day" by NCC Staff.
President Andrew Johnson pardoned most Confederate soldiers in 1868, in one of the most controversial moves of his presidency. He had just fought a hard and long battle against his own party, i.e. Radical Republicans. Earlier in 1868, he had survived a trial in the Senate after he had been impeached in the House.
He issued a general pardon for the Confederates on Christmas Day in 1868 for all who had fought for the Confederacy, provided that all eligible had applied for a pardon.
Actually, this was his 4th amnesty for Confederates and restored civil and property rights and provided immunity from treason charges. But, it didn't allow former Confederate officials to vote or hold office.
In 1872, the Amnesty Act was amended to allow almost all former Confederates, except a few hundred high-ranking officials (such as Jefferson Davis, to hold public office and vote.
--Old Pardoned Secesh
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