Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

Study for the High School Constitution Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The Thirteenth Amendment is the correct response because it specifically states that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Ratified in 1865, this amendment effectively abolished slavery throughout the country, making it an essential part of American history and civil rights.

The Fourteenth Amendment, while significant in granting citizenship and equal protection under the law for all persons, does not address the issue of slavery directly. The Fifteenth Amendment focuses on voting rights and prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude," but it does not abolish slavery. The Nineteenth Amendment grants women the right to vote, which is also important, but again, it has no relation to the abolition of slavery. Thus, the Thirteenth Amendment's clear language and historical context establish it as the amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.

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