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

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is the amendment that abolished slavery in the United States. Ratified in December 1865, the amendment 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 landmark amendment fundamentally changed the legal status of millions of people who had been enslaved, establishing that slavery was no longer permissible in any state or territory.

The other amendments listed serve different purposes: the 12th Amendment pertains to the procedure for electing the President and Vice President; the 14th Amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law; and the 15th Amendment prohibits the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. While all these amendments represent key changes in American civil rights and liberties, it is the 13th Amendment that is specifically responsible for the abolition of slavery.