<P> When South Carolina ratified the amendment in November 1865, it issued its own interpretive declaration that "any attempt by Congress toward legislating upon the political status of former slaves, or their civil relations, would be contrary to the Constitution of the United States". Alabama and Louisiana also declared that their ratification did not imply federal power to legislate on the status of former slaves . During the first week of December, North Carolina and Georgia gave the amendment the final votes needed for it to become part of the Constitution . </P> <P> The Thirteenth Amendment became part of the Constitution on December 6, 1865, based on the following ratifications: </P> <Ol> <Li> Illinois--February 1, 1865 </Li> <Li> Rhode Island--February 2, 1865 </Li> <Li> Michigan--February 3, 1865 </Li> <Li> Maryland--February 3, 1865 </Li> <Li> New York--February 3, 1865 </Li> <Li> Pennsylvania--February 3, 1865 </Li> <Li> West Virginia--February 3, 1865 </Li> <Li> Missouri--February 6, 1865 </Li> <Li> Maine--February 7, 1865 </Li> <Li> Kansas--February 7, 1865 </Li> <Li> Massachusetts--February 7, 1865 </Li> <Li> Virginia--February 9, 1865 </Li> <Li> Ohio--February 10, 1865 </Li> <Li> Indiana--February 13, 1865 </Li> <Li> Nevada--February 16, 1865 </Li> <Li> Louisiana--February 17, 1865 </Li> <Li> Minnesota--February 23, 1865 </Li> <Li> Wisconsin--February 24, 1865 </Li> <Li> Vermont--March 8, 1865 </Li> <Li> Tennessee--April 7, 1865 </Li> <Li> Arkansas--April 14, 1865 </Li> <Li> Connecticut--May 4, 1865 </Li> <Li> New Hampshire--July 1, 1865 </Li> <Li> South Carolina--November 13, 1865 </Li> <Li> Alabama--December 2, 1865 </Li> <Li> North Carolina--December 4, 1865 </Li> <Li> Georgia--December 6, 1865 </Li> </Ol> <Li> Illinois--February 1, 1865 </Li>

First state to ratify the 13th amendment to the constitution abolishing slavery