Question

What was the main provision of the Wade-Davis Bill of 1864 that led Lincoln to "pocket veto"?

Answer 1

The provision of the Wade-Davis Bill that caused Lincoln to veto the bill was the 50%+ provision.

Explanation:

The Wade-Davis Bill proposed by the radical Republicans was designed to punish the southern states. Requiring more than 50% of the white males in the previous Confederate States to sign an oath of loyalty claiming that they had never supported the rebellion would have left the southern states under military rule for years.

Lincoln favored his own 10% rule that he felt would make reconciliation between the north and south easier and promote healing in the nation.