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Congress Passes Peonage Act

1867

The Peonage Act is written to enforce the Thirteenth Amendment’s ban on “involuntary servitude.” Under this law, no one in the United States can be forced to work against his or her will even if one person is indebted to another. In addition to physically restraining or harming someone, the use of threats to get someone to work is also illegal. This law does not apply to prisoners convicted of a crime.