The
th
13
Amendment
Robert Stanton
I. Historical Document- The 13th Amendment
• “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.”
II. Main Idea
• This amendment is the United States’ official
action against slavery by abolishing it except
as punishment for crimes. This is indicating
that the U.S. is taking another step towards
peace and equality.
III. Point of View or Bias
• Leaders believed the foundation of equality in
the US was not merely based on the concept
of religious freedom, but also, on the concept
of human equality.
IV. Inferences
• The Emancipation Proclamation was a major
influence on the 13th amendment
• The Northwest Territory Ordinance of 1787
• 1883 Supreme Court Decision defined the 13th
amendment to cover all races “Negro slavery
alone was in the mind of the Congress which
proposed the thirteenth article, it forbids any
other kind of slavery, now or hereafter.”