AT THE MOVIES
Summary of ‘Lincoln’
“Lincoln” is a 2012 American epic historical drama film directed by Steven
Spielberg. With the nation embroiled in still another year with the high death count of
Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) brings the full measure of his
passion, humanity and political skill to what would become his defining legacy: to end
the war and permanently abolish slavery through the 13th Amendment. Having great
courage, acumen and moral fortitude, Lincoln pushes forward to compel the nation, and
those in government who oppose him, to aim toward a greater good for all mankind.
Biography of the
13th Amendment to
the UJS. Constitution
The 13th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution declared that "Neither slav
ery nor involuntary servitude, except as a
punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, shall exist
within the United States, or any place sub
ject to their jurisdiction."
The 13th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution officially abolished slavery
in America, and was ratified on December
6,1865, after the conclusion of the United
States of America’s Civil War, which ran
from April 12, 1861 to May 9, 1865.
President Abraham Lincoln and his
fellow Republicans knew that the
Emancipation Proclamation (Lincoln
issued the final Emancipation
Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863) might be
viewed as a temporary war measure and
not outlaw ‘slavery once the Civil War
ended, so they focused on passing a con
stitutional amendment that would do so.
The 13th Amendment was passed by
the U.S. Senate (which was dominated by
Republicans) on April 8, 1864. However,
the amendment died in the U.S. House of
Representatives as Democrats rallied in
the name of states’ rights.
The presidential election of 1864
brought Lincoln back to the White House
along with Republican majorities in both
legislative bodies. On Jan. 31, 1865, the
amendment passed in the U.S. House of
Representatives by a vote of 119 to 56,
seven votes above the necessary two
thirds majority. Several Democrats
abstained, but the 13th Amendment was
sent to the states for ratification, which
came on Dec. 6,1865. With the passage of
the amendment, the “peculiar institution”
that had indelibly shaped American histo
ry was eradicated.
Lincoln was assassinated on April 15,
1865, eight months before the 13th
Amendment was officially adopted in
December 1865.
Dan 11 i dav I i vrts
Lincoln
N O V I At HI K
w w w.wschronicle .com