The 13th Amendment
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December 14, 1863
The Congressman from Ohio, Republican James Ashley, introduced the first amendment to abolish slavery on this day. What followed was a legislative battle in Congress that included more options for an amendment in the House and the Senate being introduced. -
February 10, 1864
After months of debate in Congress, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the 13th Amendment. -
April 8, 1864
The 13th Amendment advanced to the full Senate for a vote and passed 38-6.
The U.S. Government
While the 13th Amendment sped forward to victory in the Senate, the same was not true in the House. Anti-slavery representatives failed twice – first in February and again in June – to get the two-thirds majority support that was required for the amendment to pass.
Although Lincoln supported an amendment to abolish slavery behind the scenes, he kept his opinions out of the public square (until late 1864) and let Congress do the job given to them by the people to advance the best version. But the presidential election of 1864 was underway and there was a real possibility that the elimination of slavery – a cause which thousands had given their lives fighting for – would not happen.
