Early America, though boasting greater freedom and social mobility, was still modeled in many ways after the ways of Great Britain. Because of this, the US kept its comprehensive system of debtors prisons. These prisons were places where those who defaulted on loans or taxes. Individuals were forced to either work off loans or find outside benefactors to fund their release--until then, they were forced to live in sub-par conditions with little food and heating.
Kentucky was one of the first states to outlaw the use of debtors prisons: it took the national government until 1833 to ban the practice.
- Joanna Slusarewicz
Sources:
http://www.onthisday.com/date/1821/december/17
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/02/24/debtors-prisons-then-and-now-faq#.RynXqOrOZ
http://carterandcarterlaw.com/2013/12/debtors-prison-abolished/
Kentucky was one of the first states to outlaw the use of debtors prisons: it took the national government until 1833 to ban the practice.
- Joanna Slusarewicz
Sources:
http://www.onthisday.com/date/1821/december/17
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/02/24/debtors-prisons-then-and-now-faq#.RynXqOrOZ
http://carterandcarterlaw.com/2013/12/debtors-prison-abolished/