13th+Amendment+to+the+US+Constitution,+1865

Camille Persia 4/3/09 Per. 1 Mr. Nolan 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, 1865


 * Explain the times and/or issues that gave cause to your document**-

There were many reasons for the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution that was based on the times, in the 1800’s. The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution officially abolished slavery. The need for this Amendment was, because of the outrageously racist times in the 1800’s. Innocent Black people would be murdered, beaten or sent to work as pieces of property, slaves. Blacks were considered the untouchables of American society in the 1800’s.


 * What** **is the history of your document? Describe its origins (people places etc)-**

Initially, because of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation which, declared the freedom of all slaves in any state of the Confederate States of America that did not return to Union control by January 1, 1863, slaves had been freed by state action. Yet, Lincoln and others were concerned that the Emancipation Proclamation would be seen as a temporary war measure. This later led to the cause of the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution. Abraham Lincoln did this in order to completely abolish slavery, and this guaranteed the permanent abolition of slavery. The 13th amendment was passed at the end of the Civil War before the Southern states had been restored to the Union. The 13th amendment along with the 14th and 15th amendments have greatly expanded the civil rights of the American people.


 * Was there any controversy attached to this document from any direction?-**

There was an enormous amount of controversy with this Amendment, because a large number of Americans still wanted slaves, and they did not want things to change, after all slavery was free labor. Since there was such controversy, at the time of the 13th Amendments ratification, slavery remained legal only in Delaware, Kentucky and Missouri.


 * What is the significance of this document in American history?-**

The significance of the 13th Amendment in American history is massive. If it was not for the 13th Amendment all black people would be forced into slavery. Society in a whole would not evolve; it would be stuck in the older days of strictly following the conservative values.


 * Where would you place this document on a scale of 100 - 1? Explain your position-**

I would place the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, as a 1. I would place it as a 1, because a human beings freedom is the most important thing to obtain. Taking such rights away, and making innocent human beings work under horrible conditions, for free, is atrocious especially, because the grounds of these terrible crimes. The reason for such brutality is based on the color of their skin. Discrimination based on skin color is purely wrong.


 * ID the document 10 spots before yours. Compare and contrast your documents. Which was more important/significant in YOUR opinion -**

The 13th amendment along with Dawes Act, 1887 has greatly expanded the rights of the American people. The Dawes Act was regarding the distribution of land to Native Americans in Oklahoma. The 13th amendment along with Dawes Act both altered the rights of certain groups of people. Even though such acts and laws were passed, discrimination was still a very real aspect in each society. The 13th amendment is different then the Dawes Act, because of the certain people each is set out to protect (13th Amendment- Blacks, and the Dawes Act- Native Americans). I believe the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution is more vital, because it officially abolished slavery, which is completely unethical. Next to the 13th Amendment, the Dawes Act seems insignificant. The Dawes Act was an important part of American history, yet the giving out of land is not as vital as the abolition of slavery.