Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

The amendment that abolished slavery in the United States is the 13th Amendment. Ratified in December 1865, it states: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." This landmark amendment legally ended the institution of slavery, which had been a deeply entrenched practice in American society, especially in the South.

In contrast, the other amendments listed focus on different civil rights issues. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, particularly for former slaves. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, grants women the right to vote. Each of these amendments plays a crucial role in expanding civil rights, but it is the 13th Amendment that specifically targets the issue of slavery.