Changes

'''Debtor's prison''' was the common legal practice in [[England]] and in [[American]] colonies to [[prison|imprison]] persons who failed to pay their debts.

'''Debtor's prison''' was the common legal practice in [[England]] and in [[American]] colonies to [[prison|imprison]] persons who failed to pay their debts.

Well into the 18th century, imprisonment for debt was ubiquitous in England and in most of the American Colonies.  "At the time of the [[American Revolution|Revolution]], only three of the thirteen colonies ... had laws discharging insolvents of their debts. No two of these relief systems were alike in anything but spirit. In four of the other ten colonies, insolvency legislation was either never enacted or, if enacted, never went into effect, and in the remaining six colonies, full relief was available only for scattered, brief periods, usually on an ad hoc basis to named insolvents."<ref>Coleman, Debtors and Creditors in America, at 14.</ref>

Well into the 18th century, imprisonment for debt was ubiquitous in England and in most of the American Colonies.  "At the time of the [[American Revolution|Revolution]], only three of the thirteen colonies ... had laws discharging insolvents of their debts. No two of these relief systems were alike in anything but spirit. In four of the other ten colonies, [[insolvency]] legislation was either never enacted or, if enacted, never went into effect, and in the remaining six colonies, full relief was available only for scattered, brief periods, usually on an ad hoc basis to named insolvents."<ref>Coleman, Debtors and Creditors in America, at 14.</ref>

Under harsh bankruptcy laws' of that era, debtors often fared worse than common criminals in prison.  For example, debtors, unlike criminals, were forced to provide their own food, fuel, and clothing while behind bars.<ref>B. Mann, Republic of Debtors: Bankruptcy in the Age of American Independence 78-108 (2002).</ref>

Under harsh bankruptcy laws' of that era, debtors often fared worse than common criminals in prison.  For example, debtors, unlike criminals, were forced to provide their own food, fuel, and clothing while behind bars.<ref>B. Mann, Republic of Debtors: Bankruptcy in the Age of American Independence 78-108 (2002).</ref>