On this day in 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery in America, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The amendment stated, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude…shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
At the start of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln aimed for the Union’s restoration. However, as the war progressed, the Union began to harbor escaped slaves instead of returning them to their owners, effectively ending slavery in territories conquered by Union forces.
In September 1862, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Lincoln, freeing enslaved individuals in regions still rebelling against the Union. This action raised questions regarding the status of slavery in border states that remained loyal and areas captured prior to the proclamation.
An amendment to abolish slavery secured passage in the U.S. Senate in 1864 but failed to advance in the House amidst a Democratic push for states’ rights.
Following the 1864 election, Lincoln returned to the presidency alongside a strengthened Republican majority in both congressional houses, suggesting a favorable outlook for the amendment when the new Congress reconvened in March 1865. Although Lincoln hoped for bipartisan backing, certain Democrats showed support for the measure while many others opposed it.
Ultimately, the amendment achieved a vote of 119 to 56, surpassing the two-thirds majority by seven votes. Despite some Democrats abstaining, the 13th Amendment was forwarded to the states for ratification, which occurred in December 1865.
The approval of the amendment marked the end of an institution that had profoundly influenced American history.
