What significant changes were mandated by the constitutional convention called after the Civil War?

The choice to repeal the Ordinance of Secession and abolish slavery is significant because it reflects the immediate and essential changes that were necessary for Georgia to rejoin the Union following the Civil War. The Ordinance of Secession was the formal document through which Georgia declared its intention to leave the Union, so its repeal was not only a legal necessity but also a symbolic affirmation of Georgia’s commitment to the Reconstruction process and the reunification of the states.

Abolition of slavery was a fundamental outcome of the Civil War and was codified in the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The constitutional convention called in Georgia aimed to align the state’s laws and policies with this constitutional amendment, thereby establishing a new legal framework that recognized the rights of formerly enslaved individuals.

This choice encompasses pivotal transformations during the Reconstruction era, setting the stage for future civil rights advancements and addressing previously entrenched structures of oppression. As such, this reflects a pivotal moment in Georgia's constitutional evolution, marking a significant break from its antebellum past towards a new legal and social order in the post-Civil War era.