Omar Bennett
The Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and ratified by the required number of states on December 6, 1865, marking a significant step towards the constitutional abolition of slavery in the United States. This amendment empowered Congress to create laws against modern forms of slavery, such as sex trafficking, and it has been used to strike down peonage and some forms of race-based discrimination.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date passed by Congress | 31 January 1865 |
| Date ratified | 6 December 1865 |
| Date of presidential approval | 1 February 1865 |
| Purpose | To abolish slavery in the United States |
| Previous situation | The US Constitution did not use the words "slave" or "slavery" but included provisions about unfree persons |
| Exceptions | Slavery or involuntary servitude may exist as a punishment for crime |
| Powers | Congress has the power to enforce the amendment through legislation |
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What You'll Learn
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery
The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House of Representatives on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865.
The road to the 13th Amendment began in 1863 when President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that "all persons held as slaves within any State... shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." However, the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery nationwide since it only applied to areas of the Confederacy currently in rebellion and not even to the loyal "border states" that remained in the Union. Lincoln and other Radical Republicans recognized that a constitutional amendment was necessary to guarantee the abolishment of slavery.
The 13th Amendment was the first constitutional amendment in 60 years and was the result of efforts by Radical Republicans like Massachusetts senator Charles Sumner and Ohio representative James Ashley, who had been calling for a constitutional guarantee of perpetual freedom since 1863. Sumner became chairman of a new committee on slavery in late 1863 and introduced his own constitutional amendment on February 8, 1864. After full Senate debate began on February 10, 1864, the amendment passed the Senate on April 8, 1864, with a strong coalition of Republicans and Democrats voting in its favor.
The 13th Amendment changed a portion of Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution, which had implicitly recognized slavery in the original Constitution. With the adoption of the 13th Amendment, the United States finally found a constitutional solution to the issue of slavery, and emancipation became national policy. The amendment has been used to strike down peonage and some race-based discrimination and has empowered Congress to make laws against modern forms of slavery, such as sex trafficking.
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It made emancipation national policy
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime. This amendment was a significant step in the history of the United States, as it made emancipation a national policy and guaranteed freedom for those who had been enslaved.
Before the Thirteenth Amendment, slavery was implicitly recognised in the original Constitution, and there were states that allowed slavery. In 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all persons held as slaves within any state in rebellion against the United States would be forever free. However, this proclamation did not end slavery nationwide as it only applied to areas of the Confederacy in rebellion and not even to the loyal "border states" that remained in the Union.
Lincoln and other Radical Republicans recognised that a constitutional amendment was necessary to truly abolish slavery and ensure that emancipation became a national policy. The Thirteenth Amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House on January 31, 1865, with strong bipartisan support. The joint resolution was signed by President Lincoln on February 1, 1865, and it was officially ratified and added to the Constitution later that year.
The Thirteenth Amendment changed a portion of Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution, which previously allowed for the existence of slavery. With the adoption of the amendment, the United States found a final constitutional solution to the issue of slavery, making emancipation the law of the land. This amendment empowered Congress to make laws against modern forms of slavery and has been used to strike down peonage and some race-based discrimination as "badges and incidents of slavery".
The Thirteenth Amendment has rarely been cited in case law, and the Supreme Court ruled in 1883 that it did not ban most forms of racial discrimination by non-government actors. Nonetheless, it stands as a pivotal moment in US history, enshrining emancipation as a fundamental principle and guaranteeing freedom for millions of people.
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The Amendment empowered Congress to make laws against modern slavery
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The Amendment was a significant step towards emancipation and guaranteed freedom to all persons held as slaves.
However, it's important to note that the Amendment did not ban all forms of racial discrimination by non-government actors. The Supreme Court clarified this in the Civil Rights Cases of 1883, where they reviewed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which dealt with racial discrimination in public accommodations.
Despite this limitation, the Thirteenth Amendment has been invoked to empower Congress to create legislation against modern forms of slavery, including sex trafficking. This interpretation of the Amendment ensures that it remains relevant and adaptable to contemporary issues.
The Amendment's empowerment of Congress to address modern slavery demonstrates its ongoing significance in US law and its ability to be interpreted and applied to evolving societal challenges. This flexibility ensures that the spirit and intent of the Amendment, to eradicate slavery and its legacies, can be continually pursued and adapted to fit new contexts.
The Thirteenth Amendment's role in empowering Congress to act against modern slavery is a testament to its enduring importance and a reminder of the ongoing work needed to uphold the freedom and equality it sought to establish.
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It changed Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House of Representatives on January 31, 1865. It was then ratified on December 6, 1865, by 27 of the 36 states, including those that had been in rebellion.
The Thirteenth Amendment changed a portion of Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution. This change superseded a part of the original Constitution that implicitly recognised slavery. From its inception in 1776, the United States was divided into states that allowed slavery and states that prohibited it.
The amendment was a crucial step towards the constitutional abolition of slavery. It was preceded by President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, which declared that "all persons held as slaves within any State... shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." However, the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery nationwide as it only applied to areas of the Confederacy in a state of rebellion, and not even to the loyal "border states" that remained in the Union.
Lincoln recognised that a constitutional amendment was necessary to guarantee the abolishment of slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment provided this guarantee, making emancipation a national policy. It also empowered Congress to make laws against modern forms of slavery, such as sex trafficking.
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The Amendment was ratified in 1865
The Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The Amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House of Representatives on January 31, 1865. It was then ratified on December 6, 1865, by three-fourths of the states (27 out of 36 states, including those that had been in rebellion).
The road to the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment began with the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln in 1863. This proclamation declared that all persons held as slaves in any state currently in rebellion against the United States would be "forever free." However, it did not end slavery nationwide as it only applied to areas of the Confederacy in rebellion and not even to the loyal "border states" that remained in the Union. Lincoln and other Radical Republicans recognised that a constitutional amendment was necessary to guarantee the abolishment of slavery.
The push for a constitutional amendment was led by Massachusetts senator Charles Sumner, who became chairman of a new committee on slavery in late 1863. On February 8, 1864, Sumner introduced his own constitutional amendment, but it was objected to by Judiciary Committee chairman Lyman Trumbull. On February 10, 1864, Trumbull reported the amendment out of committee, and full Senate debate began. The Senate took a crucial step towards the constitutional abolition of slavery on April 8, 1864, when a strong coalition of Republicans and Democrats joined forces to pass the amendment.
The Thirteenth Amendment was finally ratified in December 1865, and it changed a portion of Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution. With this amendment, the United States constitutionally abolished slavery and found a final solution to this issue. The Amendment has been invoked to empower Congress to make laws against modern forms of slavery, such as sex trafficking, and to strike down race-based discrimination as "badges and incidents of slavery."
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Frequently asked questions
The Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
The Thirteenth Amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House of Representatives on January 31, 1865.
The Thirteenth Amendment has been used to strike down peonage and some race-based discrimination. It also empowered Congress to make laws against modern forms of slavery, such as sex trafficking.
