February 1st, 2023
This is the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s approval of the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution (abolishing slavery).
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
The amendment had been proposed by Congress Jan 31, 1865; ratification was completed Dec 6, 1865.
Source: www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/13thamendment.html
