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 in December 1865, this amendment marked a significant turning point in American history by legally ending the institution of slavery that had existed for over two centuries. Its passage was a key milestone of the Reconstruction era, as it aimed to promote freedom and civil rights for formerly enslaved individuals, setting the stage for subsequent civil rights advancements.

The other amendments listed cover different aspects of civil rights and governance. The Fifteenth Amendment, for example, granted African American men the right to vote, while the Twelfth Amendment deals with the election of the President and Vice President. The Nineteenth Amendment established women's right to vote. Each of these amendments plays an important role in the progression of civil liberties, but it is the Thirteenth Amendment that specifically and directly abolished slavery in the United States.