Amendment1865
House Passes 13th Amendment
The United States House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery throughout the United States. The vote of 119 to 56 followed intense lobbying by President Lincoln and abolitionist activists, with some Democratic members changing their votes.
Why It Matters
The House vote was a pivotal moment in the struggle to end slavery, sending the amendment to the states for ratification and fulfilling the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation through constitutional law.