Proposed Thirteenth Amendment Regarding the Abolition of Slavery
3/2/1861
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As southern states began seceding during the winter of 1860–61, several compromises were proposed to hold the nation together. One was a constitutional amendment that would have prevented Congress from passing legislation interfering with a state’s “domestic institutions . . . including that of persons held to labor or service.” Amendment sponsors hoped its approval would keep border states in the Union and reassure southerners that Republicans opposed only the extension, not the existence, of slavery. Congress approved the amendment, but only two state legislatures ratified it."
This primary source comes from the General Records of the United States Government.
National Archives Identifier: 4688370
Full Citation: Proposed Thirteenth Amendment Regarding the Abolition of Slavery; 3/2/1861; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/proposed-thirteenth-amendment-regarding-the-abolition-of-slavery, December 3, 2024]Activities that use this document
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Created by the National Archives Education Team
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