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On January 31, 1865, the U.S. House of Representatives passed
the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery in
America.

The 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote,was
formally adopted into the U.S. Constitution by proclamation of
Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby.

Despite the passage of the amendment, poll taxes, local laws
and other restrictions continued to block women of color from
voting for several more decades.

On July 28, 1868: Following its ratification by the necessary three-
quarters of U.S. states, the 14th Amendment, granting citizenship
to all persons born or naturalized in the United States—including formerly enslaved people—was officially adopted into the U.S. Constitution. Secretary of State William Seward (below) issued a
proclamation certifying the amendment.

July 28, 1868: Following its ratification by the necessary three-
quarters of U.S. states, the 14th Amendment, granting citizenship 
to all persons born or naturalized in the United States—including formerly enslaved people—was officially adopted into the U.S. Constitution. Secretary of State William Seward issued a
proclamation certifying the amendment. 

William Henry Seward
(May 16, 1801 – October 10, 1872)

The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a progressive effort
to enforce social reform via expanded federal power and popularly known as Prohibition, was ratified on this day in history, Jan. 16,
1919. 

The amendment stated, "The manufacture, sale, or transportation
of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all the territory
subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is
hereby prohibited.”  

Prohibition ended with the ratification of the Twenty-first
Amendment, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment
on December 5, 1933.