[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE RATIFICATION OF THE 13TH AMENDMENT

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                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2005

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H. Res. 196, to recognize the ratification of the 13th 
Amendment to the United States Constitution, providing the final blow 
to eradicate the system of slavery in this great nation.
  The history of slavery in North America traces back to the early-
1500s. Through various European colonies, continuing through the early 
years of the United States, around 6 million Africans were forcibly 
removed from their home and brought to North America to work as slaves. 
The years, however, wrought on and the conscience of this Nation came 
to realize the profundity of inequality that this system perpetuated. 
Not only were people born and raised in this country forced to work as 
indentured servants, but even their status as human beings was reduced 
to that of three-fifths of a person. This system could not continue.
  Brave abolitionists working tirelessly to bring about the downfall of 
this inherently unjust system, many of them sacrificing their lives and 
their own freedoms, the tensions surrounding this issue provided one of 
the major breaking points for the American Civil War. With the advent 
of a nation turned upon itself, President Abraham Lincoln issued the 
Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, freeing all slaves within the 
Confederate States. Two years later, the 13th Amendment to the United 
States Constitution was proposed on the House floor and was met with 
cheers in support resounding from the House Gallery. Less than one year 
later, on December 6, 1863, Georgia's state legislature became the 27th 
State to pass the measure, meeting the requirement for ratification. On 
that day, the 13th Amendment was passed, slavery had been abolished, 
and our great Nation could finally put this dark period of history in 
our past.
  Over the next five years, the remaining Civil War Amendments would be 
passed, including the 14th Amendment, which granted equal protection 
under the law, and the 15th Amendment, which granted voting rights 
regardless of race. Although slavery itself had been abolished, these 
historic achievements would set the foundation for a long struggle 
towards abolishing discrimination and injustice.
  The 13th Amendment set a firm base for the modem-day civil rights 
movement, many aspects of which continue on with us today. The legacy 
of those who ended slavery and started us on the path to equality for 
all people must continue to inspire us to reach for greater tolerance, 
greater understanding, and greater compassion for our fellow human 
beings.

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