Debtor's Prison

People incarcerated for not paying their debts

Period: Oct 17, 1800 to Oct 17, 1833

Many people were thrown in jail for not paying their debts.The jails were dirty and often unpleasant.

Robert Morris Dies

Dec 5, 1806

Well known financier of the American Revolution, Robert Morris, died in prison while he was serving to pay off his debts. Morris is an example of how anyone could go to prison for their debts.

Debt Collectors Arrest Debtors

Period: Oct 18, 1833 to Oct 18, 1855

Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Washington allow debt collectors to arrest debtors.

Debtors Prisons Deemed Unconstitutional

Oct 19, 1833

The U.S. abolishes federal imprisonment of unpaid debts. States make the same decision around the same time; for it was deemed unconstitutional.

Dorothea Dix's petition

Oct 17, 1843

Dorothea Dix petitioned against the massachusetts legislature against harsh prison conditions. Her petitioning altered the prison conditions for the better and also changed the view that people could be entally ill, not just willfully perverse.

States Start Outlawing Debtor's Prisons

Period: Oct 18, 1850 to Oct 18, 1859

Most states, including Minnesota, begin outlawing Debtor's Prisons following the Supreme Court ruling that they are unconstitutional.