The Role Of Slavery In 19th Century America

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During the period of the 19th century Africans Americans were held captive because their rights as citizens had always been out of there possession. Freedom was no option until Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 which declared that “all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” (Archives.org, 1999). The 13th amendment was passed by the U.S. Senate on April 8, 1864, but unfortunately it died because the House of Representatives rallied for States rights. The ratification of the amendment came about 8 months after the civil war, but it represented the highest of the struggle against slavery. Eventually the 13th officially …show more content…

The 13th amendment covers broader amount of labor arrangements for example, a person being forced to work by the threatened use of physical or legal coercion or banning peonage, in which a person is forced to work to pay off debt. In addition, they gained citizenship and now considered citizens of the United States according to the 14th amendment. The 15th amendment followed giving African American males the right to vote which led a further step into their citizenship. Being held captive from your will African Americans tend to be grateful because they are finally considered citizens of the United States and are finally free. Unfortunately, this feeling of freedom was temporary because African Americans are still being taking advantage of. For example, mass incarceration because in most prisons majority of the people are African American because they are given sentences that are uncalled for. According, to the AmnestyUSA 1 in 3 black men in the United States will go to prison or jail