FREEDOM SHRINE

The Thirteenth Constitutional Amendment, passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House on January 31, 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude unless it was used as punishment for a crime (known as “The Exception Clause.”) This lead to a slavery “loophole” known as mass incarceration, used to keep Black Americans in a system that oppresses them and exploits their labor. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment would lead to a period of Reconstruction (1865-1877) where many great strides towards equality for Black Americans would be made. However, The Compromise of 1877 would reverse these efforts.