Interpret Primary Sources In what way
does the Thirteenth Amendment expand
on the Emancipation Proclamation?
The Thirteenth Amendment expanded on the Emancipation Proclamation by providing a legal and constitutional foundation for the emancipation of all enslaved individuals in the United States. While the Emancipation Proclamation declared slaves in Confederate territory to be free, it primarily relied on military and war powers of the President, which meant that its enforcement was limited to areas under Union control during the Civil War.
The Thirteenth Amendment, on the other hand, went beyond wartime measures and permanently abolished slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the entire country. It provided a more comprehensive and lasting solution to the issue of slavery, ensuring that it would be eradicated even after the end of the Civil War. The amendment was ratified by the states in 1865 and became a crucial component of the Reconstruction era, forming the basis for the rights and freedoms of former slaves.