Eleanor Finch
On January 31, 1865, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery in America. While President Abraham Lincoln quietly supported the amendment, he preferred that it receive bipartisan support. Some Democrats indicated support for the measure, but many still resisted. The amendment passed 119 to 56, just above the necessary two-thirds majority. While Section 1 of the 13th Amendment outlawed chattel slavery and involuntary servitude (except as punishment for a crime), Section 2 gave the U.S. Congress the power “to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the 13th Amendment was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives | January 31, 1865 |
| Date the 13th Amendment was sent to the states for ratification | February 1, 1865 |
| Date the 13th Amendment was ratified | December 6, 1865 |
| Number of votes in favor of the 13th Amendment | 119 |
| Number of votes against the 13th Amendment | 56 |
| Number of Democrats who voted in favor of the 13th Amendment | 8 |
| Number of Democrats who abstained from voting | Several |
| Political party of President who signed the 13th Amendment | Republican |
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What You'll Learn
- The 13th Amendment was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on January 31, 1865
- It abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in America
- Lincoln wanted bipartisan support, but many Democrats resisted
- The Amendment received 38 yes votes from Democrats in the Senate
- Four border-state Democrats and four Union Democrats supported the Amendment
The 13th Amendment was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on January 31, 1865
On January 31, 1865, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery in America. The amendment read: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude... shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." While President Abraham Lincoln quietly supported abolition behind the scenes, Radical Republicans like Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner and Ohio Representative James Ashley had been calling for such an amendment since 1863. They believed that Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, issued in September 1862, did not go far enough and wanted a "constitutional guarantee" of "perpetual freedom."
Lincoln preferred that the amendment receive bipartisan support, and while some Democrats indicated their backing, many resisted. The amendment ultimately passed with a vote of 119 to 56, just above the necessary two-thirds majority. It is worth noting that the House vote on the amendment in 1864 failed due to a lack of the requisite two-thirds majority.
Section 1 of the 13th Amendment outlawed chattel slavery and involuntary servitude (except as punishment for a crime). Section 2 granted the U.S. Congress the authority "to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." The 13th Amendment was then sent to the states for ratification, which was completed in December 1865.
The passage of the 13th Amendment was a significant moment in American history, formally outlawing the institution of slavery that had shaped the country's past. It is important to acknowledge that while there was strong Republican support for the amendment, it also faced significant opposition from Democrats.
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It abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in America
On January 31, 1865, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in America. The amendment read: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude...shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." While some Democrats indicated support for the measure, there was also significant resistance within the party. The amendment ultimately passed with a vote of 119 to 56, just above the necessary two-thirds majority.
The road to the 13th Amendment's passage was a long and complex one. When the Civil War began, President Abraham Lincoln's stated goal was the restoration of the Union. However, the Union army began keeping escaped enslaved people instead of returning them to their owners, effectively ending slavery in areas under Union control. In September 1862, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all enslaved people in regions still rebelling against the Union.
While Lincoln quietly supported abolition behind the scenes, he did not publicly support it until late 1864. Meanwhile, Radical Republicans like Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner and Ohio Representative James Ashley had been advocating for a constitutional guarantee of perpetual freedom since 1863. They believed that Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, as a wartime measure, did not go far enough.
On February 8, 1864, Sumner introduced his own constitutional amendment, and on April 8, a strong coalition of Republicans and Democrats in the Senate passed the amendment with a vote of 38 to 6. The House of Representatives initially defeated the amendment, but it was later passed on January 31, 1865, and ratified in December of the same year.
The 13th Amendment not only abolished slavery but also required the federal government to protect individual liberties against infringements resembling involuntary servitude. It was a significant step towards freedom and civil rights for enslaved people in America, and it shaped the evolving definition of equality in the nation.
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Lincoln wanted bipartisan support, but many Democrats resisted
Abraham Lincoln wanted the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, to receive bipartisan support. However, while some Democrats indicated support for the measure, many resisted.
Lincoln quietly supported the abolition of slavery behind the scenes but waited until late 1864 to publicly support it. In contrast, Radical Republicans like Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner and Ohio Representative James Ashley called for such action in 1863. Sumner and his allies approved of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation but believed it did not go far enough. They wanted a "constitutional guarantee" of "perpetual freedom."
On April 8, 1864, the Senate took a crucial step toward the constitutional abolition of slavery. A coalition of 30 Republicans, four border-state Democrats, and four Union Democrats joined forces to pass the amendment 38 to 6. However, when the amendment was first introduced in the House of Representatives, it was defeated, receiving only 93 votes in favour, 65 opposed, and 23 not voting. This was less than the two-thirds majority needed to pass a Constitutional Amendment.
On January 31, 1865, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment, which was then sent to the states for ratification in December of that year. The amendment passed 119 to 56, just above the necessary two-thirds majority. Several Democrats abstained, illustrating the resistance within the party to the amendment.
Overall, while some Democrats supported the 13th Amendment, it is accurate to say that there was strong Democratic opposition to it, with the amendment receiving overwhelming Republican support.
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The Amendment received 38 yes votes from Democrats in the Senate
On April 8, 1864, the Senate took a crucial step towards the abolition of slavery by passing the 13th Amendment with a vote of 38 to 6. This amendment, which abolished slavery and prohibited involuntary servitude across the United States, was supported by a coalition of Republicans and Democrats. While Lincoln quietly supported abolition behind the scenes, Radical Republicans like Senator Charles Sumner and Representative James Ashley had been advocating for such action since 1863. They believed that Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, issued in September 1862, did not go far enough and wanted a "constitutional guarantee" of "perpetual freedom."
The passage of the 13th Amendment in the Senate was made possible by the support of 30 Republicans, four border-state Democrats, and four Union Democrats, who joined forces to achieve a vote of 38 to 6. This meant that out of the 38 yes votes, eight were cast by Democrats. While some Democrats indicated support for the measure, many still resisted, and several abstained when the amendment was later voted on in the House of Representatives. The amendment ultimately passed in the House by a vote of 119 to 56, just above the necessary two-thirds majority.
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was a significant step in the nation's history, formally outlawing slavery and shaping the country's future. The support of Democrats in the Senate, reflected in the 38 yes votes, played a role in the amendment's passage and the subsequent abolition of slavery in the United States.
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Four border-state Democrats and four Union Democrats supported the Amendment
On April 8, 1864, the Senate took the first step toward the constitutional abolition of slavery. A coalition of 30 Republicans, four border-state Democrats, and four Union Democrats joined forces to pass the 13th Amendment with a vote of 38 to 6. The amendment read, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude...shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
While President Abraham Lincoln quietly supported the amendment behind the scenes, he waited until late 1864 to publicly express his support. Radical Republicans like Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner and Ohio Representative James Ashley had been calling for such action since 1863. They applauded Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation but believed a "constitutional guarantee" of "perpetual freedom" was necessary.
Lincoln preferred that the amendment receive bipartisan support, and while some Democrats indicated their backing, many resisted. The amendment ultimately passed with a vote of 119 to 56, barely above the required two-thirds majority. Several Democrats abstained, but the 13th Amendment was sent to the states for ratification in December 1865, formally outlawing the institution of slavery that had shaped American history.
The 13th Amendment remains a pivotal moment in US history, serving as the principal constitutional source mandating the federal government to safeguard individual freedoms against any infringements resembling involuntary servitude.
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Frequently asked questions
While some Democrats indicated support for the measure, many resisted and abstained. The amendment passed 119 to 56, just above the necessary two-thirds majority. In the Senate, only eight Democrats voted yes.
The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude (except as punishment for a crime).
The Senate voted 38 to 6 in favour of the amendment, with 30 Republicans, four border-state Democrats, and four Union Democrats joining forces to pass the amendment.
