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Fourth, the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution officially ended slavery in the United States. The US Senate passed it on April 8, 1864, and the US House of Representatives passed it on January 31, 1865. One hundred eighteen out of 118 Republicans—100 percent—voted for the amendment, but a mere 19 of 82 Democrats—23 percent—voted for it (see here and here). “Among Democrats, 63 percent of senators and 78 percent of House members voted: ‘No.’”
The passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in the US House of Representatives is celebrated on January 31, 1865.
Fifth, the 14th Amendment specifies that all Americans will have equal protection under the law. “In 1866 94 percent of GOP senators and 96 percent of GOP House members approved” the measure. Every single Democrat in Congress voted no.
Sixth, the 15th Amendment guarantees the right to vote for every American, regardless of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” At the time Congress passed it, there were a total of 56 congressional Democrats, and not one of them voted for it. The 15th Amendment would go on to be ratified on February 3, 1870.
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Copyright 2016 by B. Nathaniel Sullivan. All rights reserved.