Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

The Thirteenth Amendment is the correct answer because it explicitly abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime. Ratified on December 6, 1865, this amendment marked a significant turning point in American history, formally ending the legal institution of slavery that had existed for centuries. The language of the amendment clearly states that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States, greatly impacting civil rights and paving the way for future legislative reforms that aimed to secure greater equality for all individuals.

The Fourteenth Amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law but does not specifically abolish slavery. The Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote, which is unrelated to the abolition of slavery. Similarly, the Twenty-first Amendment repealed Prohibition, again unrelated to slavery issues. Therefore, the focus and historical significance of the Thirteenth Amendment in abolishing slavery establish it as the accurate and pertinent response to this question.