What significant amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

The 13th Amendment is the significant amendment that abolished slavery in the United States. Ratified in December 1865, this amendment marked a pivotal moment in American history by legally ending the practice of slavery after the Civil War. It states that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction. This transformation was a critical step towards civil rights and equality for African Americans and represented a fundamental change in American society.

The other amendments listed address different aspects of civil rights and governance: the 12th Amendment focuses on the electoral process for the President and Vice President, the 14th Amendment grants citizenship and equal protection under the law to all born or naturalized in the United States, and the 15th Amendment prohibits denying the right to vote based on race. While these amendments collectively contributed to the civil rights of individuals post-Civil War, it was the 13th Amendment that specifically ended the institution of slavery.