Thanks to the movie ‘Lincoln’, Mississippi finally ratifies the 13th amendment
In 1865, the 13th amendment outlawing slavery was enacted, meaning that it was illegal across the US to own, possess or buy and sell human beings. But just because it was federal law, the amendment wasn’t ratified by all the states. For Mississipi, it took late last year, reminded by the film ‘Lincoln’, to officially ratify the 13th amendment. Welcome to the 19th century.
After Congress voted for the 13th Amendment in January 1864, the measure went to the states for ratification.
On Dec. 6, 1864, the amendment received the two-thirds’ vote it needed when Georgia became the 27th state to ratify it. States that rejected the measure included Delaware, Kentucky, New Jersey and Mississippi.
In the months and years that followed, states continued to ratify the amendment, including those that had initially rejected it. New Jersey ratified the amendment in 1866, Delaware in 1901 and Kentucky in 1976.
But there was an asterisk beside Mississippi. A note read: “Mississippi ratified the amendment in 1995, but because the state never officially notified the US Archivist, the ratification is not official.”
Notes