Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, is significant because it officially abolished slavery in the United States. This amendment marked a pivotal change in American society, ensuring that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude could exist within the country, except as punishment for a crime. The passage of the 13th Amendment was a direct result of the Civil War, during which the issue of slavery was a central conflict.

Other amendments do not relate to the abolition of slavery. The 15th Amendment focuses on granting African American men the right to vote, the 19th Amendment guarantees women the right to vote, and the 18th Amendment instituted Prohibition, banning the sale of alcoholic beverages. Each of these amendments addresses different social and political issues but does not pertain to the institution of slavery itself. Thus, the 13th Amendment stands out as the legislation that dismantled the legal framework supporting slavery in the United States.