Introduction
Passed by Congress in 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution banned slavery and servitude and became a much-needed impetus to rapid changes in Black people’s societal status. Even though there is still an ongoing debate on whether African Americans indeed acquired freedom, or the new legislation was rather a formality, it is difficult to argue that their lives were altered. This essay will discuss what changes abolition brought about.
Not Being Enslaved
The most common definition of freedom is not being held against one’s will or imprisoned. For Black people, abolition meant emancipation and independence. No longer were they chattel property that could be sold and purchased, subjected to beatings and sexual assault. Even though life after slavery was still challenging, as many former slaves were pushed into poverty, the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment was a major milestone.
The Right to Take Action
A free person has the right to govern the course of their actions as they deem necessary. One of the biggest achievements of Reconstruction was the acquisition of the right to vote by Black People. Thus, after the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution was passed, African Americans could make decisions about their lives and also about the political development of the country.
Not Being Controlled or Limited
Emancipation means the lack of control and limits within law and reason. After the abolition of slavery, Black people found an outlet for self-expression and self-identity in building the independent Black church (Woodson 52). Previously controlled by Whites, those churches have grown to be centerpieces of African American culture and served both as a place of spiritual worship and socialization.
Conclusion
The abolition of slavery in the United States ushered the country into the new era of human rights progress. Indisputably, the slavery ban did not solve all the problems associated with racial injustice and did not relieve racial tension. Still, Black Americans were no longer forced to tolerate inhumane living conditions, the lack of self-autonomy, and the ability to express themselves.
Work Cited
Woodson, Carter G. The History of the Negro Church. Historic Publishing, 2015.