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==Political career==

==Political career==

In 1856 amidst the [[United States presidential election, 1856|presidential election that year]], Wilson ran for and was elected to serve as a delegate to the Convention for the Revision of the Constitution of Iowa.<ref name=thepoliticalgraveyard/><ref name=nytimesobit/> The following year he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, where he served in the Ways and Means Committee.

In 1856 amidst the [[United States presidential election, 1856|presidential election that year]], Wilson ran for and was elected to serve as a delegate to the Convention for the Revision of the Constitution of Iowa.<ref name=thepoliticalgraveyard/><ref name=nytimesobit/> The following year he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, where he served in the Ways and Means Committee.

In 1859, Wilson was elected to the Iowa Senate, where he served on the Committee of the Judiciary.<ref name=nytimesobit/> He also served as a delegate to the 1860 [[Republican National Convention]]<ref name=thepoliticalgraveyard/> which nominated [[Abraham Lincoln]] of [[Illinois]] and [[Hannibal Hamlin]] of [[Maine]] to head the party ticket for the [[United States presidential election, 1860|presidential election]].

In 1859, Wilson was elected to the Iowa Senate, where he served on the Committee of the Judiciary.<ref name=nytimesobit/> He also served as a delegate to the 1860 [[Republican National Convention]]<ref name=thepoliticalgraveyard/> which nominated [[Abraham Lincoln]] of [[Illinois]] and [[Hannibal Hamlin]] of [[Maine]] to head the party ticket for the [[United States presidential election, 1860|presidential election]].

Rep. Wilson's first action in Congress was introducing a resolution prohibiting fugitive slaves from being returned to [[the South]] and ordering the dismissal of any military officer that instructs troops to do such, which was enacted.<ref name=nytimesobit/> He in addition reported legislation which enfranchised blacks in [[Washington, D.C.]], as well as shepherding a bill that granted freedom to the family of black soldiers.

Rep. Wilson's first action in Congress was introducing a resolution prohibiting fugitive slaves from being returned to [[the South]] and ordering the dismissal of any military officer that instructs troops to do such, which was enacted.<ref name=nytimesobit/> He in addition reported legislation which enfranchised blacks in [[Washington, D.C.]], as well as shepherding a bill that granted freedom to the family of black soldiers.

In 1864, Wilson authored the [[13th Amendment]] which abolished [[slavery]] in the United States.<ref name=iowalegislaturebio/> He also rallied House Republican support for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which was considered a forerunner to the [[14th Amendment]].<ref name=legalisticfreesoiler>Ross, Earle D. [https://pubs.lib.uiowa.edu/annals-of-iowa/article/10438/galley/119023/view/ James F. Wilson, Legalistic Free-Soiler]. ''The Annals of Iowa''. Retrieved November 27, 2021.</ref>

In 1864, Wilson authored the [[13th Amendment]] which abolished [[slavery]] in the United States.<ref name=iowalegislaturebio/> He also rallied House Republican support for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which was considered a forerunner to the [[14th Amendment]].<ref name=legalisticfreesoiler/>

When President [[Andrew Johnson]] faced impeachment after violating the Tenure of Office Act in firing Edwin M. Stanton, Wilson, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, served as one of the House managers.<ref name=iowalegislaturebio/> Although initially opposing impeachment, he voted for the resolutions along with the vast majority of Republicans. Johnson was ultimately acquitted by the Senate due to seven GOP members in the upper congressional chamber bucking their party.

When President [[Andrew Johnson]] faced impeachment after violating the Tenure of Office Act in firing Edwin M. Stanton, Wilson, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, served as one of the House managers.<ref name=iowalegislaturebio/> Although initially opposing impeachment, he voted for the resolutions along with the vast majority of Republicans. Johnson was ultimately acquitted by the Senate due to seven GOP members in the upper congressional chamber bucking their party.