"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."
- The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1865
Which statement describes the effect that the Thirteenth Amendment had on American society?
A) Male freedmen were given the right to vote.
B) Slavery was made illegal in the United States.
C) Ex-slaves were given United States citizenship. <but i also feel this not sure
D) Southern states were no longer allowed to use convicts <my choice
Both answers are wrong.
http://www.google.com/#q=Thirteenth+Amendment+
The correct answer is B) Slavery was made illegal in the United States.
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. This amendment was a significant milestone in American history, as it ended the institution of slavery that had been present in the country for centuries. The amendment states that "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."
To determine the answer, it is important to read and analyze the amendment itself and understand its implications. The key phrase in the amendment is "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude... shall exist within the United States." This clearly states that slavery is now illegal in the United States. The exception mentioned in the amendment is for convicted criminals, who can still be subjected to involuntary servitude as punishment for their crimes.
The other options given in the question are not correct. A) Male freedmen were given the right to vote. While the Thirteenth Amendment played a role in abolishing slavery, it did not guarantee voting rights for freed slaves. Voting rights were later addressed in the Fifteenth Amendment, which specifically granted the right to vote to African American men. C) Ex-slaves were given United States citizenship. Citizenship for former slaves was addressed in the Fourteenth Amendment, not the Thirteenth Amendment. D) Southern states were no longer allowed to use convicts. The Thirteenth Amendment does mention the exception for involuntary servitude as punishment for crime, but it does not specifically address whether states can use convicts for labor purposes.
Therefore, the correct answer is B) Slavery was made illegal in the United States.