Today in History: The Thirteenth Amendment

On this day (February 1) in 1865 Abraham Lincoln signed the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude. His signature wasn’t technically necessary and is the only constitutional amendment bearing a president’s signature. It took ten months to gain the approval of the requisite number of state legislatures and finally banning slavery throughout the country. Lincoln, unfortunately, did not live to see that day.

The full text reads:

Section 1. 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.

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation