The Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment
officially freed all slaves within the United States. It was proposed by
Congress on January 31, 1865 in an act to insure that slavery could no longer
exist within the United
States. It had been a concern that after the
war was over the Emancipation Proclamation would no longer have effect as it
would be seen as a temporary measure of war. With the ratification of the
Thirteenth Amendment on Dec 6, 1865 all slaves within the United States were freed and slavery could no
longer exist within the United
States. Even after the Thirteenth Amendment
former slaves were not treated as equals. They experienced prejudice and
discrimination for years to come.