What happened during the founding of the 13th Amendment. summarize the event.
The founding of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery, was a significant event that occurred during the American Civil War. The amendment was proposed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified by the required number of states on December 6, 1865.
At the time, the abolitionist movement in the US had gained momentum, and President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, which declared freedom for slaves in Confederate-held territories. However, this proclamation did not entirely end slavery, as it did not apply to the border states or areas under Union control. It became clear that a constitutional amendment was needed to permanently and fully abolish slavery in the United States.
The 13th Amendment, in essence, declared that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States or any place subject to its jurisdiction. It was a crucial step in ending the institution of slavery, which had been an integral part of American society for centuries.
To pass the amendment, it required a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Additionally, it needed to be ratified by a majority of the states. The amendment faced challenges along the way, including opposition from some Democrats and those in the Confederate states who were still fighting against the Union, but ultimately, it was approved by both houses of Congress.
After being passed by Congress, the 13th Amendment was submitted to the states for ratification. By the end of 1865, it had been ratified by the required number of states, officially becoming a part of the US Constitution. The final ratification was achieved when Georgia became the 27th state to approve the amendment.
The founding of the 13th Amendment marked a pivotal moment in American history, as it legally ended the abhorrent practice of slavery and set the stage for the Reconstruction era that followed the Civil War. While it was not without challenges and resistance, the amendment forever changed the status of millions of enslaved individuals in the United States, bringing them one step closer to freedom and equal rights.