Question

president lincoln knew that an amendment banning slavery had to be passed before what?
emancipation proclamation:

• signed by lincoln on january 1, 1863
• not an official legal document
• made slavery the main issue of the civil war

options:
before his presidential term ended
before the end of the civil war
before more states were developed

Explanation:

To determine the answer, we analyze the context of President Lincoln and the 13th Amendment (banning slavery). The Civil War was ongoing, and Lincoln knew the amendment needed to be passed before the war ended to ensure it was legally solidified, as the Emancipation Proclamation was not an official legal document (like an amendment) and the war’s end would impact the ability to pass such a measure. The other options (before his term ended, before more states developed) are less relevant to the urgency of the Civil War’s conclusion and the legal status of slavery.

Answer:

The Middle Option: before the end of the Civil War