GED Social Studies - 13th Amendment
Data Absorbing > Given Paragraph > Speech
Important Instructions
Please read and answer 33 Questions carefully within
TIME LIMIT 40 min.
The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. Ratified on December 6, 1865, it was the first of three Reconstruction Amendments aimed at ensuring the rights of former slaves.
The 13th Amendment states: “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.” This landmark amendment represented a significant turning point in American history, affirming the nation's commitment to freedom and equality. It laid the foundation for subsequent civil rights movements aimed at eliminating racial discrimination.
This amendment not only liberated millions of African Americans who had suffered under slavery, but it also prompted a series of other legislative measures designed to protect the rights of individuals regardless of race.
Overall, the 13th Amendment serves as a crucial reminder of America's struggle for equality and justice.
Notable Speeches Related to the 13th Amendment
-
Woodrow Wilson - "The New Freedom" (1913)
- Context: President Wilson emphasized reforms that were essential for democracy, highlighting the need for the direct election of Senators.
- Speech:
“We shall have to enter... into an era of a new freedom... This is the only way we can secure a system of government that is truly representative.”
- Full Text: The New Freedom
-
Frederick Douglass - "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" (1852)
- Context: Invited to speak at a July 4th event, Douglass reflected on the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom while slavery persisted.
- Speech:
“This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
- Full Text: Full Text
-
Abraham Lincoln - "Emancipation Proclamation Speech" (1863)
- Context: In this pivotal address, Lincoln justified the need to free enslaved people to preserve the Union during the Civil War.
- Speech:
“That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of the States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free...”
- Full Text: Full Text
-
Martin Luther King Jr. - "I Have a Dream" (1963)
- Context: In this iconic speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, King called for civil and economic rights.
- Speech:
“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.”
- Full Text: Full Text
-
Sojourner Truth - "Ain't I a Woman?" (1851)
- Context: Sojourner Truth delivered this speech at a women's convention, advocating for women's rights and the abolition of slavery.
- Speech:
“That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mudpuddles, or gives me any best place!”
- Full Text: Full Text
This compilation reflects key thoughts during the Progressive Era, emphasizing the call for direct democracy and political reform that culminated in the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1913.
Year | Event | Description |
---|---|---|
1865 | Ratification of the 13th Amendment | The amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, marking a significant step towards civil rights in the U.S. |
1866 | First Civil Rights Act | This act granted citizenship to all persons born in the U.S. except Native Americans. |
1868 | 14th Amendment | This amendment granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all people, especially former slaves. |
1870 | 15th Amendment | This amendment granted African American men the right to vote. |
1964 | Civil Rights Act | This act prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. |