When it comes to learning US history, one of the most important events occurred in 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring freedom for slaves.

Upon signing the proclamation, he was reported to have said: “I never, in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right, than I do in signing this paper.”

But it was not until 1865 that Congress finally passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to abrogate (see definition and hear pronunciation below) slavery in the US.

To read more about the 13th Amendment, go to: http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/13thamendment.html

Cool word vocabulary question of the day: Are there any modern-day practices that you believe should be abrogated?

Abrogate: To abolish, do away with or repeal, especially as an official act.

Click to hear the pronunciation of abrogate:

 https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/abrogate.mp3