<P> The Thirteenth Amendment ( Amendment XIII ) to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude , except as punishment for a crime . In Congress , it was passed by the Senate on April 8 , 1864 , and by the House on January 31 , 1865 . The amendment was ratified by the required number of states on December 6 , 1865 . On December 18 , 1865 , Secretary of State William H. Seward proclaimed its adoption . It was the first of the three Reconstruction Amendments adopted following the American Civil War . </P>
<P> The Thirteenth Amendment ( Amendment XIII ) to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude , except as punishment for a crime . In Congress , it was passed by the Senate on April 8 , 1864 , and by the House on January 31 , 1865 . The amendment was ratified by the required number of states on December 6 , 1865 . On December 18 , 1865 , Secretary of State William H. Seward proclaimed its adoption . It was the first of the three Reconstruction Amendments adopted following the American Civil War . </P>
when was the 13th amendment ratified by the states
when was the 13th amendment ratified by the states
December 6 , 1865
December 6 , 1865