Reconstruction: 13th Amendment

We review the history of resistance by enslaved people in the United States, and how the Civil War changed things, leading to widespread self-emancipation. We then talk about the intended scope of the amendment, its passage through moral arguments, solidarity, bribery, and self-interested political calculation, and conclude by discussing how the Supreme Court has narrowed its self-executing provisions while leaving room for more expansive legislation.

Participants: Harry Sandick, Jon Hatch