The Final Struggles: September 1864 to April 1865To Make Men Free |
How did the path to the Thirteenth Amendment begin? |
U.S. Representative James M. Ashley from Ohio brought up his motion that Congress should outlaw slavery throughout the nation. Ashley had done so before, in 1864, and the measure had passed the Senate, but failed to obtain the two-thirds necessary in the House.
James M. Ashley, a representative from Ohio, brought up the motion in Congress that slavery be formally abolished throughout the country.