February 23, 1865 – Minnesota became the 15th state to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution permanently abolishing slavery. On February 1, the
Tag: U.S. Congress
The Thirteenth Amendment: The Vote
January 31, 1865 – The U.S. House of Representatives passed a constitutional amendment permanently abolishing slavery in America. The Lincoln administration, led by Secretary of
The Thirteenth Amendment: Debate Begins
January 9, 1865 – The U.S. House of Representatives opened debate on a constitutional amendment abolishing slavery that had been defeated last year. The abolition
Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 Message to Congress
December 6, 1864 – The Thirty-eighth U.S. Congress received President Abraham Lincoln’s annual message. With the Confederacy on the verge of defeat, the message focused
The Wade-Davis Bill: Executive Response
July 4, 1864 – President Abraham Lincoln was presented with a bill outlining the congressional plan for reconstructing the Union, and his reaction outraged many.
Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Message to Congress
December 8, 1863 – The first session of the Thirty-Eighth U.S. Congress assembled in Washington and received President Abraham Lincoln’s annual message. In this new