13th Amendment

copied from: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html

Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865.
Note: A portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution was superseded by the 13th amendment.
Section 1.
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.
Section 2.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


President Abraham Lincoln pushed for this 13^th amendment to support his Emancipation Proclamation which free all slaves from the south. The 13^th amendment made all slavery and involuntary servitude illegal in the United States unless someone was convicted of a crime. Essentially, those convicted are “slaves” of the land and are forced to work against their free will to serve as punishment for their crime. Citizens cannot force or be forced to work off a debt even if you are being paid to work. 

Current Day thoughts with Modern Day Actions? With the Donald Sterling Fiasco is this how  most feel?

MIssissippi Finally Ratifies the 13th Amendment in 2013. After the clerical error from them trying to ratify it the first time in 1995.