The U.S. House of Representatives passes the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, sending it to the states for ratification.
At a Glance
- Date
- 31 January 1865
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Key people
- Abraham Lincoln, Thaddeus Stevens
- Category
- Emancipation & Reconstruction
- Source
- 13th Amendment; House vote of January 31, 1865 · National Archives
What It Meant Then
It moved national abolition from wartime proclamation toward permanent constitutional law.
What It Means Now
The vote is remembered as a decisive step toward ending legalized slavery in America.
Also on 31 January
Cite this page
- MLA
- “House Passes the 13th Amendment.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/house-passes-the-13th-amendment/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). House Passes the 13th Amendment. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/house-passes-the-13th-amendment/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “House Passes the 13th Amendment.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/house-passes-the-13th-amendment/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.