Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery?

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1865, is the amendment that abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. This was a significant change in American law and society, as it marked the formal end of an institution that had been integral to the country's economy and culture for centuries. The amendment states that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, shall exist within the United States." This pivotal action laid the groundwork for subsequent civil rights advancements and was a major victory for the abolitionist movement, which had campaigned extensively against the practice of slavery.

The other amendments mentioned have different focuses: the 14th Amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, the 15th Amendment concerns voting rights regardless of race, and the 19th Amendment grants women the right to vote. Each of these amendments plays a crucial role in promoting civil liberties and rights, but it is the 13th Amendment that specifically eliminated the legal institution of slavery in the United States.