Which amendment abolished slavery?

The amendment that abolished slavery is the 13th Amendment. Ratified in December 1865, this amendment explicitly states, "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 legal change marked a pivotal moment in American history, as it not only abolished the institution of slavery but also laid the groundwork for subsequent civil rights advancements by asserting the principle that all individuals should have the right to freedom.

The other amendments listed have different focuses: the 10th Amendment deals with states' rights and powers not delegated to the federal government; the 14th Amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, which built upon the abolition of slavery by ensuring that former slaves were granted citizenship; and the 15th Amendment protects the right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Each of these amendments is significant in the context of civil rights, but it is the 13th Amendment that directly accomplished the abolition of slavery in the United States.