Question

Why did Lincoln feel it was necessary for the country to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment?

Answer 1

Amendments have to be ratified by 2/3 of the states.

Explanation:

The states have to approve amendments proposed by the Congress. The states are all individual parts of the U.S that make up a whole, therefore, their opinions must be heard on changes to the Constitution.

Lincoln in particular may have been extremely careful to make sure that the 13th amendment was ratified so that his opponents (slavery was a very important issue, especially since they were on the cusp of war) would not be able to object.

https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/articles/article-v/article-v-by-michael-b-rappaport-and-david-a-strauss/interp/22