Inside the Vault: The Thirteenth Amendment and Its Significance
In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation declared the end of slavery in the rebellious states, but slavery was not abolished in the United States until after the Civil War ended in 1865. What did it take to get the Thirteenth Amendment ratified? How have interpretations of the Thirteenth Amendment evolved over time?
Join us on January 2, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT) when our curators discuss the road to the Thirteenth Amendment with Dr. Touré Reed, Professor of History at Illinois State University.
Submit your questions for Dr. Reed here.
Featured Documents
- Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863
- Reading the Emancipation Proclamation, 1864
- Fragment of Lincoln’s last State of the Union Address concerning the Thirteenth Amendment, December 6, 1864
- Sealed certification of the Thirteenth Amendment, February 2, 1865
Related Resources
- Essay: “Lincoln and Abolitionism” by Douglas L. Wilson, History Now 6 (Winter 2005)
- Essay: “The Emancipation Proclamation: Bill of Lading or Ticket to Freedom?” by Allen C. Guelzo, History Now 6 (Winter 2005)
- Essay: “Allies for Emancipation? Black Abolitionists and Abraham Lincoln” by Manisha Sinha, History Now 18 (Winter 2008)
- Inside the Vault: “The Emancipation Proclamation & FDR’s Advice to Students”
- Online Exhibition: “Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation”
- Spotlight on a Primary Source: “A proposed Thirteenth Amendment to prevent secession, 1861”
- Spotlight on a Primary Source: “Ratifying the Thirteenth Amendment, 1866”
- Video: “The Emancipation Proclamation” by Allen C. Guelzo
- Video: “Criticisms of the Emancipation Proclamation” by Allen C. Guelzo
I cannot attend the live program. Will it be recorded?
Yes! The program is recorded and sent in an email the following day to everyone who registers.
Future Programs
Inside the Vault: John Adams Discusses George Washington’s “Ten Talents”
What qualities are most important in a leader? In an 1807 letter to Benjamin Rush, John Adams described George Washington’s “ten talents,” listing such attributes as “An handsome Face,” “A tall Stature,” and “An Elegant form.” Excluding any mention of Washington’s intellect or statesmanship, the letter hints at the shadow that Washington had cast over Adams and his career, and how it shaped his understanding of how to be successful in politics.
Join us on February 6, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT) when our curators discuss John Adams’s perception of George Washington’s leadership with Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky, executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library.
About Inside the Vault
Inside the Vault: Highlights from the Gilder Lehrman Collection is an online program that highlights unique primary sources from the Gilder Lehrman Collection. From iconic historical treasures, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Emancipation Proclamation, to personal letters that reveal the contributions of ordinary American citizens, each session will investigate primary sources and discuss their background, impact, and potential use in the classroom.