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