2. The 13th Amendment: Abolishing Slavery, But Not Its Legacy
The ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865 officially abolished slavery in the United States, marking a historic victory for freedom. However, its exception for “punishment for crime” allowed forced labor to persist, providing a legal loophole that states later exploited through convict leasing and mass incarceration. This provision would have profound and lasting consequences, shaping systems of racial control for generations. Learn more about the amendment’s text and impact at the Library of Congress.
