State Historical Society of Iowa

Certification of the 13th Amendment by Secretary of State William H. Seward, December 18, 1865

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, "A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 - 1875," pp. 774–775, December 18, 1865

Description

On December 18, 1865, William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State, officially certified the 13th Amendment after its approval by two-thirds of both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures.

Transcript of Certification of the 13th Amendment

Source-Dependent Questions

  • According to the text, what steps are necessary for an amendment to be made to the Constitution?
  • What was the intent of the 13th Amendment?
  • How could a state or local government have used the text of the amendment to circumvent its intent?
  • What was not guaranteed to freedmen by the 13th Amendment that might have been necessary after their emancipation?

Citation Information 

"A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 - 1875," pp. 774–775, December 18, 1865. Courtesy of Library of Congress