Question

question 5 of 10
why did forced labor continue after the civil war?
a. it was approved for repayment of war debts.

b. it was legal as a form of punishment.

c. it was required of former confederate soldiers.

d. it was legal until reconstruction ended.

Explanation:

After the Civil War, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery except as a punishment for crime. So forced labor continued legally as a form of punishment (e.g., through convict leasing systems where prisoners, often African Americans, were forced to work). Option A is incorrect as war debts weren't repaid via forced labor. Option C is wrong as former Confederate soldiers weren't required to do forced labor. Option D is incorrect as the legality of forced labor as punishment wasn't tied to Reconstruction's end.

Answer:

B. It was legal as a form of punishment.