Why did Congress feel it necessary to pass the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States?
A) They believed that African Americans were racially equal to whites.
B) They wanted to end slavery in all parts of the nation, including the Border States.
C) They wanted to guarantee voting rights to former slaves.
D) They wanted to ensure that freedmen and whites could live together in mutual respect.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Thirteenth Amendment was passed to abolish slavery throughout the entire United States, including in the Border States where it had still been legal. This was a crucial step in the broader effort to end the institution of slavery nationwide, rather than just in the Confederate states that had been addressed by the Emancipation Proclamation.

Why Did Congress Feel It Necessary to Pass the Thirteenth