In 1789 when the U.S Constitution went into effect, it guaranteed the practice of slavery in America. By the mid-1800’s the topic of slavery became a divisive force in the country, with much of the north, especially the Republican Party opposing it and almost the entire south and many northern democrats supporting it. The senate passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of United States on 8th April 1864 and the House on 31st January 1865 and it was ratified on the 6th December 1865. It abolished servitude and slavery as a legal institution. Though the Constitution does not explicitly use the word “slaves”, it does refer to it by using words such as “such persons” in Article 1, Section 9 and “a person held to service or labor” in Article
…show more content…
He was adamant that the passage of the Amendment be added into the election campaign agenda of the Republican platform for the upcoming presidential elections. He put in all of his political skill and influences so as to convince the additional democrats to support the amendment. His labor finally saw some fruit when the House passed the bill in January of 1865 by 119-56. Lincoln also supported only those Congressmen who wanted the southern states to adopt the Thirteenth Amendment in order to return with full rights to …show more content…
This document proclaimed, authenticated by President Lincoln’s signature, that “all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." Lincoln very aptly realized that as president he has no legal right to single-handedly abolish the institution of slavery but that this had to be achieved by a constitutional amendment. The Proclamation was actually just a “war powers” action by the President, the commander-in-chief of the armies. By proclaiming thus he tried to remove all the slaves from the ownership of the southern people who were “in rebellion against the United States”. Even while doing so Lincoln was very concerned about the legality of his actions. His intention was to word the document in such legal terms so as to make the document legally binding in all courts of law in the times to come. He also realized the need of the constitutional amendment following the Emancipation Proclamation in quick succession so as to guarantee the abolishment of
He was adamant that the passage of the Amendment be added into the election campaign agenda of the Republican platform for the upcoming presidential elections. He put in all of his political skill and influences so as to convince the additional democrats to support the amendment. His labor finally saw some fruit when the House passed the bill in January of 1865 by 119-56. Lincoln also supported only those Congressmen who wanted the southern states to adopt the Thirteenth Amendment in order to return with full rights to …show more content…
This document proclaimed, authenticated by President Lincoln’s signature, that “all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." Lincoln very aptly realized that as president he has no legal right to single-handedly abolish the institution of slavery but that this had to be achieved by a constitutional amendment. The Proclamation was actually just a “war powers” action by the President, the commander-in-chief of the armies. By proclaiming thus he tried to remove all the slaves from the ownership of the southern people who were “in rebellion against the United States”. Even while doing so Lincoln was very concerned about the legality of his actions. His intention was to word the document in such legal terms so as to make the document legally binding in all courts of law in the times to come. He also realized the need of the constitutional amendment following the Emancipation Proclamation in quick succession so as to guarantee the abolishment of