Kentucky Refuses To Abolish : 1865

February 24, 1865, marks a significant day in the history of the United States, particularly with regard to the issue of slavery. On this day, the Kentucky General Assembly made a controversial decision by refusing to endorse the end of slavery in America. This decision had significant implications for the country, and it reflected the deep divisions that existed between the Northern and Southern states during the Civil War. At the time of the decision, the Civil War had been raging for four years, and the issue of slavery had been one of the primary causes of the conflict. The Emancipation Proclamation had been issued in 1863, which declared that all slaves in the Confederate states were to be freed. However, this proclamation did not apply to the border states, including Kentucky, which were still loyal to the Union. As the war progressed and it became clear that the Union would emerge victorious, the issue of slavery became even more contentious. In January 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which would abolish slavery throughout the entire country, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The amendment needed to be ratified by three-fourths of the states to become law, and the support of Kentucky was crucial. Despite this, on February 24, the Kentucky General Assembly voted against endorsing the 13th Amendment, with a vote of 59 to 36 in the House of Representatives, and a vote of 20 to 13 in the Senate. This decision was met with shock and dismay by many in the North, who saw it as a sign that the country was still deeply divided on the issue of slavery. The decision of the Kentucky General Assembly was not without its reasons. Many Kentuckians were opposed to slavery, but they also believed that the federal government did not have the right to abolish it. They saw it as a violation of states’ rights and believed that it was up to each individual state to decide whether or not to allow slavery. Furthermore, Kentucky had a unique situation when it came to slavery. Unlike other Southern states, slavery was not as deeply ingrained in the state’s economy. While there were still a significant number of slaves in the state, there were also many free African Americans, and many Kentuckians had mixed feelings about the institution of slavery. The decision of the Kentucky General Assembly had significant implications for the country. The failure to endorse the 13th Amendment made it much more difficult for it to be ratified by the necessary number of states. It also highlighted the ongoing divisions between the Northern and Southern states, and it made it clear that the issue of slavery was far from resolved. However, the decision of the Kentucky General Assembly did not represent the views of all Kentuckians. In fact, many were deeply disappointed by the decision and worked to change the minds of their fellow citizens. In April 1865, just two months after the decision was made, the Kentucky legislature called for a convention to discuss the issue of slavery. The convention ultimately voted to support the 13th Amendment, and it was ratified by Kentucky in December of that year. The decision of the Kentucky General Assembly on February 24, 1865, was a significant moment in the history of the United States. It reflected the deep divisions that existed between the Northern and Southern states during the Civil War and demonstrated the ongoing struggle to resolve the issue of slavery. However, it also showed that the views of the people were not always reflected in the decisions of their elected representatives, and that change could come from the grassroots level. Ultimately, the 13th Amendment was ratified by the necessary number of states, and slavery was abolished throughout the country.