Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

The 13th Amendment is significant because it formally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime. Ratified on December 6, 1865, the amendment was a crucial turning point in American history, marking the legal end of the institution of slavery following the Civil War. It 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 laid the foundation for subsequent civil rights advancements by ensuring that individuals could not be held as property.

In the context of the other amendments listed, the 14th Amendment primarily addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, the 12th Amendment pertains to the election of the President and Vice President, and the 15th Amendment grants African American men the right to vote, but none of these directly deals with the abolition of slavery. Thus, the 13th Amendment is the correct answer as it is the legal document that ended slavery in America.