Turner was one of many Black parents whose demands for their children’s freedom defined the scope of the 13th Amendment’s ban on slavery.
Jurisprudence
July 27, 20262:10 PM
Chief Justice Salmon Chase decided that Elizabeth Turner’s apprenticeship violated the 13th Amendment’s prohibition of involuntary servitude.
Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by Library of Congress.
This is part of Amicus and Slate’s “By the People” series, which explores how the American people can reclaim the Constitution—and the law—from this monarchical Supreme Court.
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These landmark decisions left an indelible mark on our society—some for the better, some for the worse.
