thirteenth amendment united_states constitution thirteenth amendment amendment united_states_constitution abolished slavery punishment crime congress passed senate april house january amendment ratified required number states december december secretary state proclaimed adoption adopted following american_civil_war slavery original constitution provisions article section clause commonly known compromise detailed state total slave population total population count purposes seats united_states house_of_representatives direct taxes states slaves declared free president abraham_lincoln emancipation proclamation post war status uncertain april senate passed amendment abolish slavery unsuccessful vote extensive legislative maneuvering lincoln administration house followed suit january measure swiftly ratified nearly northern states sufficient number border reconstructed southern states cause adopted end year amendment formally abolished slavery united_states factors white violence selective enforcement statutes continued subject black americans labor particularly south contrast thirteenth amendment rarely cited later case law strike race based discrimination incidents slavery thirteenth amendment applies actions private citizens fourteenth apply state actors amendment enables congress pass laws sex trafficking modern forms slavery text section slavery punishment crime party shall duly convicted shall exist united_states place subject jurisdiction section congress shall power enforce article appropriate legislation slavery united_states institution slavery existed original thirteen british north american colonies prior thirteenth amendment united_states constitution adopted use words slave slavery included provisions persons clause article section allocated congressional representation based number free persons persons clause compromise wished slaves counted persons congressional representation rejecting concern power south representation new congress based population contrast vote state principle earlier article section person held service labour state freed escaping article section allowed congress pass legislation purposes fifth amendment states person shall deprived life liberty property process law slaves understood property fifth amendment argue slavery legal basis treating slaves property scott stimulated philosophy declaration independence northern state provided immediate gradual abolition slavery slaves involved household servants southern state slave population south continued grow peaking million people abolitionist movement headed figures grew strength north calling end slavery nationwide tensions alliance felt races kept separated feared presence freed blacks encourage slave rebellions called emigration colonization free blacks slaves africa views endorsed politicians feared main abolitionist movement provoke civil war proposals eliminate slavery constitutional amendment introduced representative failed gain significant traction country continued expand issue slavery new territories dominant national issue southern position slaves property moved territories like forms property provided admission missouri slave state maine free state preserving senate equality regions introduced war bill ban slavery territories acquired mexican american war repeatedly passed house senate compromise temporarily issue admitting california free state stronger fugitive slave act banning slave trade washington allowing new_mexico utah self determination slavery issue despite compromise tensions continued rise subsequent decade things publication anti slavery novel cabin fighting pro slave abolitionist forces kansas beginning scott decision struck provisions compromise abolitionist attempt start slave revolt ferry election slavery critic abraham_lincoln presidency southern states union months following lincoln election forming beginning american_civil_war proposal ratification crafting amendment acting presidential war powers lincoln issued january proclaimed freedom slaves states rebellion affect status slaves border states remained loyal union december lincoln war powers issued proclamation amnesty reconstruction offered southern states chance peacefully rejoin union abolished slavery collected loyalty voting population southern states readily accept deal status slavery remained uncertain final years civil war union debated proposals reconstruction called constitutional amendment abolish slavery nationally permanently december bill proposing amendment introduced representative representative soon followed similar proposal january senator missouri submitted joint resolution constitutional amendment slavery chaired involved merging different proposals amendment radical republicans led senator representative sought expansive version amendment february submitted constitutional amendment stating persons equal law person hold slave congress shall power laws necessary proper carry declaration effect united_states tried promote expansive wording controlled failed february presented senate amendment proposal based drafts wilson henderson committee version text shall slavery said territory punishment crimes party shall duly convicted henderson proposed amendment basis new draft removed language allowed constitutional amendment adopted majority vote house congress ratification thirds states instead thirds respectively passage congress senate passed amendment april vote democrats maryland oregon voted months later june house failed favor thirteen votes short thirds vote needed passage vote split largely party lines republicans supporting democrats opposing presidential race candidate threatened party run opposing lincoln time platform endorsing anti slavery amendment republican_party platform failed include similar lincoln endorsed amendment letter accepting nomination withdrew race september endorsed lincoln southern states represented members congress pushed moral religious arguments favor slavery democrats opposed amendment generally arguments based states rights argued proposed change violated spirit constitution valid amendment instead constitute revolution representative white opponents warned amendment lead citizenship blacks republicans portrayed slavery argued abolition necessary step national progress amendment supporters argued slave system negative effects white people included lower wages resulting competition forced labor repression abolitionist whites south advocates said ending slavery restore amendment constitutional rights violated censorship intimidation slave states democrats excited abolition amendment holding meetings issuing resolutions blacks particularly south focused education key liberation slavery began politically array northern democrats announced support amendment including representative senator powerful new_york political machine president lincoln concerns reversed found invalid war saw constitutional amendment permanent solution remained neutral amendment considered politically dangerous nonetheless lincoln party platform resolved abolish slavery constitutional amendment winning election lincoln passage thirteenth amendment legislative priority beginning efforts lame duck session office popular support amendment mounted lincoln urged congress december state union speech question time proposed amendment states action events agree sooner better lincoln instructed secretary state representative votes means necessary promised government posts campaign contributions outgoing democrats willing switch sides large fund direct bribes reintroduced measure house lobbied democrats vote favor measure representative commented later greatest measure nineteenth century passed corruption aided man america lincoln precise role making deals votes remains unknown republicans congress claimed mandate abolition having gained elections senate house democratic vice presidential nominee representative led opposition measure republicans toned language radical equality order amendment coalition supporters order critics worried amendment tear apart social fabric republicans explicitly promised amendment leave intact mid january speaker estimated amendment votes short passage postponed vote point lincoln intensified push amendment making direct emotional appeals particular members congress january house called vote amendment certain outcome house members present vote secure passage resolution members reducing number republican supported measure democrats lame ducks amendment finally passed vote narrowly reaching required thirds majority house exploded celebration members openly black allowed attend congressional sessions previous year galleries constitution president plays formal role amendment process joint resolution sent lincoln signature usual signatures speaker house president senate president lincoln wrote word approved added signature joint resolution february february congress passed resolution presidential signature unnecessary thirteenth amendment ratified amendment signed president signed amendment 36th congress adopted sent states march ratification states thirteenth amendment submitted states february quickly taken end month ratified eighteen states confederate states virginia louisiana submitted reconstruction governments subsequent arkansas tennessee raised issues states legally valid fewer states article required ratification states legally valid state president lincoln speech april called question southern states union obviously declared proper practical relation union object restore relation lincoln assassinated days later congress session new president began period known presidential reconstruction personally oversaw creation new state governments south oversaw state political conventions populated delegates deemed loyal leading issues came convention abolition slavery confederate war debt alabama florida georgia mississippi north_carolina south_carolina held conventions texas convention organize march johnson hoped prevent admit southern states ratification congress december believed silence wished deny southern states place union pointing essential successful ratification thirteenth amendment direct negotiations state governments johnson administration ensued summer wore administration officials began including assurances measure limited scope demands ratification johnson suggested directly governors mississippi north_carolina control allocation rights johnson obviously expected freed people enjoy civil rights including specified right testify court wanted state know power rights remain states south_carolina provisional governor objected scope amendment enforcement clause secretary state responded telegraph fact second clause effect instead powers congress white politicians south concerned congress cite amendment enforcement powers way authorize black suffrage south_carolina ratified amendment november issued declaration attempt congress political status slaves civil relations contrary constitution united states alabama louisiana declared ratification imply federal power status slaves week december north_carolina georgia gave amendment final votes needed constitution thirteenth amendment constitution december based following illinois february rhode_island february michigan february maryland february new_york february pennsylvania february west_virginia february missouri february maine february kansas february massachusetts february virginia february ohio february indiana february nevada february louisiana february minnesota february wisconsin february vermont march tennessee april arkansas april connecticut new_hampshire july south_carolina november alabama december north_carolina december georgia december having ratified states states including rebellion secretary state december certified thirteenth amendment valid purposes constitution included enrolled list states confederate states given strings attached accepted votes brushed aside comment challenge thirteenth amendment subsequently ratified oregon december california december florida december reaffirmed june iowa january new_jersey january rejection march texas february delaware february rejection february kentucky march rejection february mississippi march certified february rejection december thirteenth amendment constitution years twelfth amendment longest interval constitutional amendments effects impact abolition slavery felt quickly thirteenth amendment operational scope lincoln emancipation proclamation widened include entire nation majority kentucky slaves people remained legally freed amendment went effect december delaware large number slaves escaped war people legally free addition slavery prohibiting punishment crime thirteenth amendment compromise population state originally included congressional purposes free persons persons slaves excluded native americans compromise provision constitution required population slaves counted purposes seats house_of_representatives taxes states compromise effect increasing political power slave holding states increasing share seats house_of_representatives consequently share state influence election president tied size congressional delegation thirteenth amendment working way ratification process republicans congress grew increasingly concerned potential large increase congressional representation democratic dominated southern states population freed slaves counted southern states dramatically increase power population based house_of_representatives republicans hoped offset advantage attracting protecting votes newly black population political economic change south southern culture remained deeply racist blacks remained faced dangerous situation reported kind innate feeling lingering hope south slavery shape tried laws worse slavery protection master interest gave wrote slavery abolished thirteenth amendment million plantation work emancipation work interrupted changed war getting wages apparently going subject slave codes modified thousands camps soldiers streets cities homeless sick impoverished freed practically land money save exceptional cases legal status protection official emancipation substantially alter economic situation blacks remained south amendment permitted labor punishment convicted criminals southern states responded historian called array laws essentially intended black life laws passed updated emancipation known mississippi state pass codes law titled act mississippi law required black workers contract white farmers january year face punishment blacks sentenced forced labor crimes including petty theft language selling cotton sunset states passed new strict laws enforced blacks white labor sold farms factories lumber camps mines ratification thirteenth amendment november south_carolina legislature immediately began created separate set laws acceptable behaviors black great codes blacks work farmers servants constitutional rights restrictions black land ownership threatened economic permanent states mandated indefinitely long periods child laws target blacks specifically instead affected farm workers black time states passed laws actively prevent blacks acquiring property southern business owners sought reproduce profitable arrangement slavery system called black workers loans compelled work indefinitely debt continued reconstruction large proportion black workers south workers remained persecuted forced work dangerous jobs confined legally racist laws governed south differed slavery strictly hereditary allow sale people exactly fashion person debt extension person sold system resembled slavery ways congressional executive enforcement enforcement legislation congress passed civil rights act guaranteed black americans citizenship equal protection law right vote amendment authorization bureau bills president vetoed bills congressional veto pass civil rights act proponents act including wilson argued section thirteenth amendment enforcement power authorized federal government civil rights states disagreed maintaining inequality conditions distinct slavery seeking substantial justification fearing future opponents seek legislation congress states added additional constitution fourteenth amendment defined citizenship mandated equal protection law fifteenth amendment banned racial voting restrictions enforced amendment locally providing degree support people subject thirteenth amendment established bureau legal basis operate kentucky civil rights act racism local jurisdictions allowing blacks access federal courts civil rights act violence intimidation white supremacy effort end slave conditions southern blacks effect laws waned political diminished federal government lost authority south particularly compromise ended reconstruction exchange republican presidency law act congress abolished holding person service labor system known specifically banning voluntary service labor persons debt obligation created focused primarily amendment labor rights increasing scrutiny lead world war brought increased attention issues slavery abroad home sought counter foreign propaganda increase credibility race issue southern system leadership attorney general invoked constitutional amendments legislation basis actions successfully prosecuted keeping domestic servant conditions slavery court found jones person wholly subject defendant freedom action person services wholly control defendant state enforced compulsory service defendant thirteenth amendment enjoyed swell attention period brown board jones eclipsed fourteenth amendment human trafficking victims human trafficking conditions forced labor commonly threat legal actions victims forced labor trafficking protected title code title section conspiracy rights conspiracy threaten person rights privileges secured constitution laws united_states title section rights color law crime person acting color law federal state local officials enforce statutes regulations customs cause deprived rights privileges person secured protected constitution laws includes causing subjected person different pains penalties prescribed punishment citizens account person alien reason color race definitions refers person debt tied payment debt includes use force threat force threat legal person work refers person held actual force threats force threats legal condition slavery compulsory service labor includes condition people compelled work climate fear evoked use force threat force threat legal suffer legal consequences demands sufficient service bailey alabama ruled laws violated amendment ban requiring specific performance remedy breach personal services contracts viewed form scholars courts jurisdictions scholars rejected argument popular rule local jurisdictions upheld higher courts forced labor labor service obtained threats harm physical restraint scheme plan pattern intended cause person believe suffer harm physical restraint perform labor services abuse threatened abuse law legal process judicial interpretation contrast reconstruction amendments thirteenth amendment rarely cited later case law historian handful landmark striking debt instances race based violence discrimination thirteenth amendment potent source rights claims black slaves descendants rhodes thirteenth amendment cases tested provisions civil rights act granted blacks federal courts kentucky law prohibited blacks whites arrangement compromised ability citizen united_states african race reach justice white person accused attempted try case federal court ruled federal option unconstitutional supreme_court justice sitting overturned kentucky decision holding material enforcement provided civil rights act slavery truly abolished turner chief justice ordered freedom slave maryland master supreme_court heard civil rights act case relating federal courts kentucky white men visiting cabin black family apparently angry sixteen year old hit twice head killed richard parents blind grandmother severely wounded young daughters kentucky courts allow foster children testify federal courts authorized civil rights act found guilty murder supreme_court took case ruled foster children standing federal courts living people advantage act courts effectively ruled thirteenth amendment permit federal remedy murder cases maintaining order meaningful effects thirteenth amendment address racial oppression based case set precedent state federal courts led erosion congress thirteenth amendment powers supreme_court continued path upheld state sanctioned monopoly white united_states court ignored circuit court decision perpetrators massacre enforcement act thirteenth amendment solely ban slavery covers broader array labor arrangements social respect fourteenth fifteenth amendment thirteenth amendment special undoubtedly negro slavery mind congress proposed thirteenth article kind slavery mexican chinese labor system shall develop slavery mexican chinese race territory amendment safely trusted void rights states properly necessarily fall protection articles protection apply party interested african descent wish understood fair construction section phrase amendments necessary look purpose said spirit evil designed remedy process continued addition constitution purpose supposed accomplished far constitutional law accomplish civil rights cases supreme_court reviewed consolidated cases dealing civil rights act outlawed racial discrimination public land water theaters places public amusement court ruled thirteenth amendment ban forms racial discrimination non government actors majority decision bradley wrote non binding thirteenth amendment empowered congress attack incidents slavery distinguished fundamental rights citizenship protected thirteenth amendment social rights men races community majority opinion held running slavery argument ground apply act discrimination person fit guests entertain people coach cab car admit concert theatre deal matters intercourse business solitary dissent kentucky lawyer changed mind civil rights law witnessing organized racist violence argued discrimination practiced corporations individuals exercise public quasi public functions badge congress prevent power court civil rights cases held appropriate legislation amendment state laws establishing slavery amendment character establishing universal civil political freedom united_states congress empowered pass laws necessary proper incidents slavery united_states court stated scope amendment amendment fourteenth undoubtedly self executing legislation far terms applicable existing state circumstances force effect abolished slavery established universal freedom legislation necessary proper meet cases circumstances affected proper modes violation letter spirit legislation primary direct character amendment mere prohibition state laws establishing slavery absolute declaration slavery shall exist united_states attorneys argued racial segregation involved character incidents slavery violation thirteenth amendment brief supreme_court lawyers wrote distinction race inherently unconstitutional supreme_court rejected reasoning upheld state laws enforcing segregation separate equal doctrine majority decision court found statute implies merely legal distinction white colored races distinction founded color races exist long white men distinguished race color tendency destroy legal equality races state writing thin disguise equal accommodations passengers railroad coaches wrong day united_states court struck federal statute providing punishment people threaten citizen free exercise enjoyment right privilege secured constitution laws united_states group white men arkansas violently prevent black workers performing jobs lumber mill group convicted federal grand jury supreme_court ruled federal statute outlawed citizens liberty authorized thirteenth amendment held mere personal assault appropriation operates reduce individual condition slavery maintaining opinion thirteenth amendment protect freedom physical restraint reaffirmed interpretation finding amendment apply restrictive enforcement federal civil rights law south created numerous cases slowly traveled judiciary supreme_court ruled united_states held employers described workers entry contract voluntary definition bailey alabama reaffirmed holding thirteenth amendment solely ban slavery covers broader array labor arrangements social addition court ruled congress enforcement power thirteenth amendment court said plain intention amendment abolish slavery form incidents render impossible state labor free prohibiting control personal service man disposed benefit essence amendment self executing far terms applicable existing condition congress authorized secure complete enforcement appropriate legislation jones legal histories cite jones turning point thirteen amendment supreme_court confirmed jones congress act prevent private actors imposing incidents black couple missouri sued real estate company refusing sell house court held congress power thirteenth amendment determine incidents slavery authority translate determination effective legislation court recognized long ago encompassed incidents slavery disabilities included restraints fundamental rights essence civil freedom right inherit purchase lease sell convey property enjoyed white citizens civil rights cases enacted civil war restrict free exercise rights slave system exclusion white communities substitute racial discrimination men makes ability buy property turn color skin slavery negro citizens saw thirteenth amendment promise freedom freedom come pleasure buy sell left mere paper guarantee congress powerless assure dollar hands negro purchase thing dollar hands white man freedom congress empowered secure thirteenth amendment includes freedom buy white man buy right live white man live congress free man means thirteenth amendment promise nation reopened issue linking racism contemporary society history slavery united_states jones precedent justify congressional action protect workers target sex trafficking direct enforcement power found thirteenth amendment contrasts fourteenth allows responses institutional discrimination state actors cases supreme_court taken especially narrow view claims people descended black african slaves baldwin group merchant challenged federal statutes failure complete contractual term service court ruled seamen contracts considered unique time amendment intended introduce novel doctrine respect certain descriptions service treated exceptional case numerous incidents cases justice authored dissent favoring broader selective draft supreme_court ruled military draft united_states supreme_court ruled thirteenth amendment prohibit psychological defined purposes criminal prosecution condition victim forced work defendant use threat physical restraint physical injury use threat law legal process definition encompasses cases defendant holds victim placing fear physical restraint injury legal ruled use community service high school graduation requirement violate thirteenth amendment prior proposed thirteenth amendments decades following ratification twelfth amendment proposals amend constitution adopted congress sent states ratification ratified number states necessary constitution commonly known amendment referred article thirteen successful thirteenth amendment joint resolution passed congress pending states ratified strip citizenship united_states citizen accepts title nobility honor foreign country consent congress amendment pending states march ratified shield domestic institutions states common slavery constitutional amendment process abolition interference congress
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution