<P> Though the amendment formally abolished slavery throughout the United States , factors such as Black Codes , white supremacist violence , and selective enforcement of statutes continued to subject some black Americans to involuntary labor , particularly in the South . In contrast to the other Reconstruction Amendments , the Thirteenth Amendment was rarely cited in later case law , but has been used to strike down peonage and some race - based discrimination as `` badges and incidents of slavery '' . The Thirteenth Amendment applies to the actions of private citizens , while the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments apply only to state actors . The amendment also enables Congress to pass laws against sex trafficking and other modern forms of slavery . </P>
<P> Though the amendment formally abolished slavery throughout the United States , factors such as Black Codes , white supremacist violence , and selective enforcement of statutes continued to subject some black Americans to involuntary labor , particularly in the South . In contrast to the other Reconstruction Amendments , the Thirteenth Amendment was rarely cited in later case law , but has been used to strike down peonage and some race - based discrimination as `` badges and incidents of slavery '' . The Thirteenth Amendment applies to the actions of private citizens , while the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments apply only to state actors . The amendment also enables Congress to pass laws against sex trafficking and other modern forms of slavery . </P>
what was the direct effect of the 13th amendment
what was the direct effect of the 13th amendment
formally abolished slavery throughout the United States
formally abolished slavery throughout the United States