The End Of Slavery

The Thirteenth Amendment which abolished slavery was adopted December 6^th 1865.

The Thirteenth Amendment formally abolished slavery and forced servitude, except when used as punishment for crimes.  It was adopted December 6^th 1865.  It was the first of the Reconstruction Amendments.  President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 made slavery against the law only in the Confederate states.  The Thirteenth was the first new amendment to be added to the United States Constitution in more than sixty years.

The Senate passed the Thirteenth Amendment by a vote of 38 to 6 on April 8^th 1864.  The House of Representatives declined to take action.  It was reintroduced and with President Lincoln’s push, the Thirteenth passed the House January 31^st 1865 by 119 to 56.  The archival copy of the amendment includes the President’s signature along with the Speaker of House and the President of the Senate.

A web site to view the Thirteenth Amendment--Slavery and Involuntary Servitude