What amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

The Thirteenth Amendment is the constitutional amendment that abolished slavery in the United States. Ratified in 1865, it clearly states that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction. This was a monumental step in American history, marking the legal end of the institution of slavery that had existed since the colonial period.

In contrast, the Fourteenth Amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, but it does not directly relate to the abolition of slavery. The Nineteenth Amendment grants women the right to vote, significantly impacting women's suffrage, while the Fifteenth Amendment prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. While these amendments are crucial in advancing civil rights, they do not focus on the abolition of slavery itself. Thus, the Thirteenth Amendment is specifically tasked with that significant legal and moral milestone.