Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution is the amendment that abolished slavery in the United States. Ratified on December 6, 1865, 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 landmark amendment effectively ended the institution of slavery, which had been a deeply entrenched part of American society before the Civil War.

In contrast, the other amendments mentioned serve different purposes. The 12th Amendment primarily addresses the procedure for electing the President and Vice President. The 14th Amendment establishes citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, particularly for former slaves. The 15th Amendment prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Each of these amendments plays a significant role in shaping civil rights in the United States, but it is the 13th Amendment that specifically focuses on the abolition of slavery.