Amendmenst

Brodi Meeks

U.S. Government

The 13th Amendment

The 13th Amendment was passed in 1865 and called for a total abolition of slavery. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude unless it was punishment. Leading up to the 13th Amendment was the civil war. During the civil war the southern states wanted to succeed from the Union to be able to keep slavery around. Lincoln seeing this, drafted the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was an order that tried to free slaves in the rebelling southern states. The 13th Amendment was going through the system in 1863, but the House of Representatives denied the Amendment because they supported the southern states. The Amendment’s passing depended on Lincoln becoming president for his second term in 1864.

The 15th Amendment

The 15th Amendment allows anyone to vote no matter their race, color, or them being a formal slave. This Amendment gave African Americans the right to vote and the right to hold public offices. The southern states did not accept the Amendment and it was not until many years after the passing that the government stepped in to enforce it. The 15th Amendment was passed in 1870 about 5 years after the Civil War, this is why their were so many problems at the start of the new amendment. Many people were skeptical of blacks and immigrants be able to vote only 5 years after the Civil War. The amendment was passed because blacks wanted an equal say in the American Government, but it would not be for more than 100 years that the amendment was actually enforced.