Amendment 13 · Ratified December 6, 1865
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, fundamentally transforming American society.
Source: U.S. Const. amend. 13
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.
The 13th Amendment makes it illegal to have slaves or force people to work against their will. It allows for forced labor only if someone is convicted of a crime.
The 13th Amendment was passed in the wake of the Civil War as a crucial step in ending slavery in the United States. It represented a significant shift in the legal and moral landscape of the nation.
This test examines whether the conditions of servitude are defined as punishment for a crime.
Holding: The Supreme Court held that Congress could regulate private discrimination under the 13th Amendment.
Significance: This case underscored the broad scope of the 13th Amendment in combating racial discrimination in housing.
Holding: The Court ruled that the words 'involuntary servitude' do not encompass all forms of exploitation or coercion.
Significance: This case clarified the limits of the 13th Amendment concerning contemporary forms of labor coercion.