13th Amendment: A Step Toward Racial Equality

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Emancipation Proclamation declaring all slaves free in the rebellious states as of January 1st, 1863. 1865 was a big year for civil rights in America, the Civil War ended this year along with the assassination of abolitionists President Abraham Lincoln. Also in 1865 the 13th amendment passed which stated "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime…”. The 13th amendment was a huge step toward racial equality nevertheless African Americans and abolitionists were nowhere near done fighting. 14th and 15th amendments soon followed the 13th with 14th amendment giving slaves freedom from slave owners and the 15th amendment giving African Americans the right to vote.