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, the 13th Amendment explicitly states that "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 amendment was a significant legal step in the post-Civil War era, as it formally ended the institution of slavery, which had been a contentious issue leading to the Civil War.

Understanding the context of this amendment is crucial; it marked the beginning of a new era in American civil rights, leading to the further push for equality and the eventual passage of other amendments designed to ensure the civil rights of formerly enslaved people. The impact of the 13th Amendment set the stage for future legal battles and the ongoing struggle for civil rights in the United States.