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war concluded. Recognizing the urgency of the moral

imperative to permanently abolish slavery forevermore,
he mobilized the Republican Party to act with intense
th
haste to gain passage of the 13 Amendment.

From the beginning, Lincoln and the Republicans faced

formidable opposition. The Democratic Party was solidly
united in opposition. Also, the people were war weary,

having suffered many family losses and countless
tragedies. In addition, it was becoming clear that the
end of the war was imminent. Therefore, few were

ready to embrace anything that could prolong the war.
Yet, passage of this Amendment posed the certain risk

of prolonging the nation’s most bloody conflict. These
obstacles made passage appear impossible to achieve.

The opportunity to end slavery in America was growing
faint and rapidly closing.

During this time Lincoln’s intense determination,
coupled with his exceptional humility and mastery of

persuasion, was tested to limits beyond the breaking
point for normal humanity. But in times like this, GOD

doesn’t send us normal humanity; HE sends the most
extraordinary and often the most unlikely. Historical

accounts record how President Lincoln worked tirelessly
to first build a consensus within his own party. Then he

directed a “refuse-to-fail” effort to recruit votes from

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