Committee of Thirty-three Facts

1860 - 1861

Key facts about the House Committee of Thirty-three.

Portrait of Thomas Corwin

On December 4, 1860, by a vote of 145 to 38, the House formed a select committee to entertain ideas to avert disunion. Known as the Committee of Thirty-three, the group comprised one representative from each state. On December 11, Thomas Corwin of Ohio chaired the first meeting of the committee. The members considered various proposals during its existence, which ended on January 14, 1861. [Wikimedia Commons]

  • On December 4, 1860, by a vote of 145 to 38, the U.S. House of representatives formed a select committee to entertain ideas to avert disunion, known as the Committee of Thirty-three.
  • The Committee of Thirty-three consisted of one representative from each state.
  • The Committee of Thirty-three was chaired by Republican Thomas Corwin of Ohio.
  • The Committee of Thirty-three met for the first time on December 11, 1860.
  • On January 14, 1861, Thomas Corwin submitted the Committee of Thirty-three’s majority report to the House of Representatives.
  • The Committee of Thirty-three’s majority report endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would have prohibited Congress from interfering with the institution of slavery in any state.
  • As was the case with the Senate Committee of Thirteen, the House Committee of Thirty-three was unable to find enough common ground to prevent the dissolution of the Union and the onset of civil war in the United States.

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Article Title Committee of Thirty-three Facts
  • Date 1860 - 1861
  • Author
  • Keywords committee of thirty-three
  • Website Name American History Central
  • Access Date October 1, 2023
  • Publisher R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update April 26, 2022

Committee of Thirty-three Facts is Part of the Following on AHC