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Essay On The 13th Amendment

937 Words4 Pages

Before, during, and long after the Civil War blacks were discriminated against in almost every form of life. They had to fight and be patient to be accepted as equals among their white counterparts; this process took form over a long period of time, and after many failures, blacks were truly equal in the eyes of the government. The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments which were passed in the late 1860’s were supposed to bring political, social, and economic equality for the blacks; however, this was not the case, while in some facets of life blacks obtained more freedoms they had to wait many years after these amendments were passed to be fully equal to whites.
The thirteenth amendment abolished slavery in the United States. this …show more content…

This amendment allowed blacks to have an equal part in American society barring the exception of voting. They were provided with due process of law and a right to a fair trial, this made them equal in the courtrooms in theory. They were still discriminated against in the courts and really did not have fair trials and due process. Many whites still believed themselves superior to blacks, so most times when a black was brought into a legal proceeding they were convicted, no matter if they were innocent or guilty. They also had the right to run for local political offices, while this was a tremendous stepping stone for black rights, those blacks that ran for office never were elected because blacks did not have the right to vote, and no white man would vote for a black in this time period. This amendment helped blacks economically because they could now sue whites for cheating them thanks to due process; however, as previously stated, most times if a black and a white were against each other in a trial, the white man would have the victory due to the prejudices of that time. Socially blacks were forbidden to serve on a jury thanks to the Black Codes being passed under Andrew Johnson’s racist presidency. The fourteenth amendment allowed blacks more freedom in the eyes of the government, but in local settings this tenement was not practiced fully, most of

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What the 13th amendment did was make slavery illegal in the United States , how the Dred Scott case had an effect on this was that when Northerners had heard about this they were upset about how he had lived in Illinois , one of their free states , as a slave. The fact that Dred Scott lost his case because he was not considered a citizen , so therefore he could not make a case in the first place , is one of the things that lead to the 14th amendment. The 14th amendment gave all people equal protection under the constitution , so if something similar to Dred Scott’s case were to happen it would not matter what race or history that person had , they now have the right equal and fair

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Following the ending of the Civil War in 1865, America was in an era known as the Reconstruction. The Reconstruction lasted until 1877. Citizens were attempting to rebuild our nation following one of the deadliest war in American History. In this time, the Fourteenth Amendment and Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution were ratified. Although slaves were freed, African Americans still faced intense racial prejudice and discrimination.

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In the year of 1865, the 13th Amendment was passed by Congress. This Amendment formally abolished slavery within the United states. This ratification was the final consent to considering the Three-Fifths compromise obsolete; A compromise that was relevant for many years reforming the idea of how the slave count should be considered into the population of the United States. Not only did this Amendment shatter the idea of giving slave three-fifths of a count toward the population, this was the first formal movement towards giving slaves an identity.

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Although slavery was declared over after the passing of the thirteenth amendment, African Americans were not being treated with the respect or equality they deserved. Socially, politically and economically, African American people were not being given equal opportunities as white people. They had certain laws directed at them, which held them back from being equal to their white peers. They also had certain requirements, making it difficult for many African Americans to participate in the opportunity to vote for government leaders. Although they were freed from slavery, there was still a long way to go for equality through America’s reconstruction plan.

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In January 31, 1865 the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment were passed and this changed the lives of most African American men and momen. To be an American means to be free. We are not under complete control over the power of anyone else. In January 31, 1865 the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment were passed this is when African Americans got the right to vote, African Americans couldn't be slaves by law anymore, and African Americans could be citizens of the U.S. So being an American means we are not under the control or in the power of another, and we are able to act or be done as one wishes, being released from captivity, confinement, or slavery, and the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without interruption, or restraint.

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It was rough for African Americans in the 1890’s, and though they tried to live a normal easy life they always had obstacles that got in the way. They had thought everything was going good for them with the 13th and 14th amendment being announced. Also The Emancipation Proclamation which stated, on January 1, 1863, "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free" was a speech that actually came out before the 13th and 14th amendment which was the whole reason why those amendments had came out. The 13th amendment stated that "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”. This was such a big deal since

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Politics and Power play a huge role in this documentary and how it has shaped the United States approach towards the african americans. The U.S. government could of done more to help the african americans with racial inequality. They passed laws that didn’t truly help them, if anything, it worsen the chaos in their lives. The 13th Amendment was passed in 1865 which was proposed by Abraham Lincoln. African Americans believed that was the end of racism but it continued to increase by the years.

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It removed the literacy tests as a voting requirement. Poll taxes were also declared unconstitutional because the court ruling in Harper v. Virginia. Even though all these great changes did not end all Jim Crow laws straightaway, they set the United States on a course that would lead to the ending of segregation and discrimination. All of these changes formed by the end of Jim Crow was great news for African Americans. Reason being, African Americans could finally become full participants in the American political process (Berman,

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Angela Davis Once said “Well for one, The 13th Amendment to the constitution of the U.S. which abolished slavery, did not abolish slavery for those convicted of a crime.” Although the amendment was desperately needed it made more problems for the U.S.The thirteenth amendment was about abolishing slavery. Many people had different opinions about this amendment. The amendment affected our nation dramatically. The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution says that, "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.

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The Fourteenth Amendment (Amendment XIV) The amendments were put into place to protect the rights and civil liberties of all American citizens from the federal government. However, prior to the fourteenth amendment, there was no certainty with the constitution. The constitution did not state in a clear enough way who was protected under it and exactly what rights you had as an American Citizen. The 14th amendment was in response to the just passed thirteenth amendment, which ended slavery in all of the southern states.

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The thirteenth amendment stated that all former slaves were granted freedom. The reconstruction period, “did create the essential constitutional foundation for further advances in the quest for equality”. It laid the building blocks for the future building for civil rights not just for blacks but women and other minorities. Former slaves, “ found comfort in their family and in the churches they established”. Blacks took community in each other and bonded over the mutual idea of freedom .

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A Critical Commentary on the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution Introduction Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence, “We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us” (“Declaration of Independence”). The Tenth Amendment states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people” ("U.S. Constitution - Tenth Amendment"). The founding fathers ratified the Tenth Amendment to prevent a centralized government from taking away individual rights. One of the purposes of the Tenth Amendment is to prevent the federal government from directing the

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521 Words | 3 Pages

The 26th amendment states “The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.” My opinion on the 26 amendment is that the voting age should be lowered to 16 instead of 18. I also believe the 2nd amendment should be change which also expresses “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Changing the 26th amendment could gradually increase society being safer. I feel the 26th amendment should be change because people of teenage years seem to know just as much about politics as much as older people.

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473 Words | 2 Pages

Post Civil War, African Americans started to gain rights to gain rights, and soon gain rights equal to whites. While there were some people/things standing in their way (KKK, Black Codes), in the end they got what they needed; Equality. Many acts and laws were passed to aid the new rights now held by African Americans, as well as the numerous people willing to help. New Amendments were added to give African Americans rights after the war, all giving them some equal rights to whites. The first of the three added was the Thirteenth Amendment, it gave African Americans freedom from slave owners, and stated that no one could be kept as a slave in the U.S..

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The thirteenth amendment made all slaves free and made the act of owning or forcing people to work for no pay illegal, expect for criminals. This loophole was immediately exploited by the South states, whom economy was devastated due to the Civil War and the banning of slavery. Many people of color were exploited by this system and forced into prisons, where they would work to benefit southern economies, while earning little pay in the process. A rhetoric in the south that people of color were "soulless monsters out for the blood of civilized society" swept across the nation. Even people such as President Woodrow Wilson were impacted by this rhetoric, which influenced him to make segregation legal in the government.

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