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The Thirteenth amendment |
By: Anahid Anna Bariyan
Section 1: Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2: Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 2: Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
There are many positive acts that were done during the Reconstruction period, the era following the Civil War, which influenced America as a nation of freedom. Though the citizens did not have a voice to be heard to result in a difference in the society they are living in, the Congressional board were the ones to take action and make the change. During this time, many changes were made in the Constitution; Most importantly, the Thirteenth Amendment which brought upon legal and permissible protections to former slaves by abolishing slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment states: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." After the Civil War, this Amendment was passed as a Reconstruction to redraw the boundaries of American freedom.
This was the influential step to resolving the issue of slavery within the United States of America. The Southerners started believing that black people were incapable of caring for themselves and that slavery was kind gesture to keep them fed, clothed, and busy. Some slaves who were husbands, wives, or even children, were sold away from one white family to the next as if they were objectified. The wealthy Southerners had come to believe that this was the right way to be living. Even though many slaves escaped to the North, they were not free. Not until the Thirteenth Amendment came into playing the first role of making a life changing event. Even then, it was not only relevant to the African American population, it also helped other cultures come to a unity with equal rights.
This was the influential step to resolving the issue of slavery within the United States of America. The Southerners started believing that black people were incapable of caring for themselves and that slavery was kind gesture to keep them fed, clothed, and busy. Some slaves who were husbands, wives, or even children, were sold away from one white family to the next as if they were objectified. The wealthy Southerners had come to believe that this was the right way to be living. Even though many slaves escaped to the North, they were not free. Not until the Thirteenth Amendment came into playing the first role of making a life changing event. Even then, it was not only relevant to the African American population, it also helped other cultures come to a unity with equal rights.
· April 8, 1864 – The Senate passed the Thirteenth Amendment
· June 15, 1864 – The House of Representatives initially defeated the 13th Amendment by a vote of 93 in favor, 65 opposed, and 23 not voting, which is less that two-thirds majority needed to pass a Constitutional Amendment.
· January 31, 1865 – The House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment by a vote of 119 to 56.
· February 1. 1865 – President Abraham Lincoln signed a Joint Resolution submitting the proposed 13th Amendment to the states.
· December 18, 1865 – Secretary of State William Seward issued a statement verifying the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
· June 15, 1864 – The House of Representatives initially defeated the 13th Amendment by a vote of 93 in favor, 65 opposed, and 23 not voting, which is less that two-thirds majority needed to pass a Constitutional Amendment.
· January 31, 1865 – The House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment by a vote of 119 to 56.
· February 1. 1865 – President Abraham Lincoln signed a Joint Resolution submitting the proposed 13th Amendment to the states.
· December 18, 1865 – Secretary of State William Seward issued a statement verifying the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
The 13th Amendment did not ban most racial discrimination, though. It did release the restrictions of public areas in the South. Whereas the restrooms, amusement parks, movie theaters, and other public areas were free from the restrictions of segregation, the social rights of men and different cultures in the community were hard to be found by the rest of the community. Within this positive change that Congress assured to pass, the Thirteenth Amendment was the first step in making a difference to the way slaves lived their life. This step of ratifying the Amendment would influence the rest of the community into having similar beliefs.
Under the policies of President Andrew Johnson, white southerners put in place again civil authority in the former Confederate states in 1865 and 1866. They executed a series of laws known as the “black codes” that restricted freed blacks from activity and be available for the labor force. These included the requirement of signed yearly labor contracts. And if refused, they were subject to arrest, fines, or forced to work without pay. In order to fight the Black Codes, the federal government established Freedman’s Bureaus to help the black people. Abandoned lands were used to build schools, hospitals, feed people, and provide medical aid and also to negotiate labor contracts for ex-slaves. The Black Codes made it possible for colored people to be arrested for almost anything. This was the one of the main reasons as to why Abraham Lincoln helped ratify the 13th Amendment to lead to freedom in America.
All in all, the elimination of slavery came through within the Reconstruction period as the Civil War was coming to an end. If the Thirteenth Amendment had not occurred, America would be a completely different country as it would not have the equal parts of freedom. Through this, our history has brought upon the idea of unity and freedom of speech. By slowly changing the different views that society has on one another during the Reconstruction Period, America has come very far in improving the idea of being open-minded and accepting with equality.
All in all, the elimination of slavery came through within the Reconstruction period as the Civil War was coming to an end. If the Thirteenth Amendment had not occurred, America would be a completely different country as it would not have the equal parts of freedom. Through this, our history has brought upon the idea of unity and freedom of speech. By slowly changing the different views that society has on one another during the Reconstruction Period, America has come very far in improving the idea of being open-minded and accepting with equality.