of loss of citizenship, was proposed in 1811, but it was not
ratified.

An amendment making slavery perpetual was proposed in 1861, in the hope
that this might avert the war, but it was not ratified.

The thirteenth and fourteenth amendments were proposed in 1865 and 1868
respectively, and they were ratified the same years.

The fifteenth amendment was proposed in 1869, and ratified in 1870.

The propositions of amendments have thus far been made by congress, and
all ratifications have been made by the state legislatures.

_Pertinent Questions._

State four ways in which the constitution may be amended. What _temporary_
limitation was placed upon the power to amend the constitution? What
_permanent_ prohibition? How is the English constitution amended? In what
case _must_ congress call a convention to propose amendments? Must the
convention thus called propose any amendments? Which is the better of the
two ways of proposing amendments? When an amendment is proposed by
two-thirds of both houses of congress, is it necessary to secure the
approval of the president? Can a state withdraw its ratification of an
amendment? When is an amendment, once proposed, dead? Did it take
three-fourths of _all_ the states or only three-fourths of the loyal
states to ratify the thirteenth amendment? How many of the disloyal states
finally ratified it? How is the ratification and consequent validity of
any proposed amendment made known?

CHAPTER XXVII.

ARTICLE VI.--MISCELLANEOUS.

_Clause 1.--Prior Debts and Engagements._

_All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adoption of
this constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this
constitution as under the confederation._

The debts were incurred and the engagements were entered into by the
United States, and changing the _form of government_ would not release the
country from its obligations. The insertion of this provision however,
served as an explicit statement of the purpose of the government to live
up to its engagements.

_Clause 2.--National Supremacy._

_This constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made
in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under
the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land;
and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the
constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding._

This pro