thirteenth amendment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Academic, Historical, Legal, Formal Political Discourse
Quick answer
What does “thirteenth amendment” mean?
The constitutional amendment in the United States that formally abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The constitutional amendment in the United States that formally abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
A foundational legal and moral principle of post-Civil War American society, representing the constitutional guarantee of freedom from chattel slavery. It is often cited as a cornerstone of civil rights law and a symbol of the nation's struggle to overcome its original sin.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is specific to U.S. constitutional history. In British contexts, it would only be used in discussions of U.S. history or comparative law, not as a domestic reference. No UK-specific equivalent exists.
Connotations
In the U.S., it connotes freedom, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality. In the UK, it is understood primarily as a key fact of U.S. history.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in U.S. historical, legal, and political academic contexts. Very low frequency in everyday British English outside specific educational or comparative discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “thirteenth amendment” in a Sentence
The [SUBJECT: e.g., Congress, state] ratified the Thirteenth Amendment.The Thirteenth Amendment abolished [OBJECT: slavery].This violates the [MODIFIER: core] principle of the Thirteenth Amendment.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thirteenth amendment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The parliament sought to amend the act, much like the Americans amended their constitution.
American English
- Congress amended the Constitution to abolish slavery.
adverb
British English
- The law was changed constitutionally, via amendment.
American English
- Slavery was ended constitutionally through the Thirteenth Amendment.
adjective
British English
- The post-thirteenth-amendment era in America is a key study.
American English
- Thirteenth-Amendment cases are central to constitutional law.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) reports referencing historical context or in ethical investment discussions.
Academic
Core term in U.S. History, Constitutional Law, Political Science, African American Studies, and Legal History courses.
Everyday
Used in general discussions about U.S. history, civil rights, and politics, but not in casual conversation.
Technical
Precise term in legal briefs, court opinions, and historical scholarship concerning U.S. constitutional law and civil rights.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thirteenth amendment”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thirteenth amendment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thirteenth amendment”
- Writing '13th amendment' in lower case in formal writing.
- Referring to it as the 'Amendment that gave slaves rights' (it abolished slavery; the 14th Amendment granted citizenship and equal protection).
- Misspelling 'amendment' as 'ammendment'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The amendment prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude 'except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.' This exception has been used to justify convict leasing and other forms of penal labour.
It was ratified by the required three-fourths of the states on December 6, 1865, when Georgia ratified it, and was officially proclaimed on December 18, 1865.
It was proposed by the U.S. Congress (the 38th Congress) in January 1865. President Abraham Lincoln was a strong proponent, though he was assassinated before its final ratification.
No. While its historical impetus was the abolition of African chattel slavery, its language is universal. It prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude for any person within the United States.
The constitutional amendment in the United States that formally abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
Thirteenth amendment is usually academic, historical, legal, formal political discourse in register.
Thirteenth amendment: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθɜːˈtiːnθ əˈmendmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθɝːˈtiːnθ əˈmendmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms; it is itself a historical/legal term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: '13' looks like 'B' for 'bonds' and 'I' for 'I am free' – the amendment that broke the bonds and declared 'I am free'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LEGAL FOUNDATION or CORNERSTONE (of American freedom); A BRIDGE (from slavery to freedom); AN ERASER (of the nation's original sin).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary legal effect of the Thirteenth Amendment?