On May 22, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the General Amnesty Act, allowing all but about 500 Southern male voters denied voting rights as a punishment for rebellion under the XIVth Amendment to regain their right to vote and hold office. General amnesty was finally made universal on June 6, 1898.

On May 22, 1972, the former British colony of Ceylon ratified a new constitution, becoming the Republic of Sri Lanka.