Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

The 13th Amendment is the correct answer as it explicitly abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. Ratified in December 1865, this amendment marked a significant turning point in American history by legally ending the practice of slavery, which had existed for centuries. The text of the amendment states that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, shall exist within the United States." This provision ensures that all individuals are free from being held in bondage, except under specific legal circumstances.

The other amendments listed serve different purposes in the context of American civil rights. The 14th Amendment focuses on citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, ensuring that every person born or naturalized in the U.S. is granted equal rights. The 15th Amendment addresses voting rights, prohibiting the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." The 18th Amendment, on the other hand, instituted Prohibition, banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. Each of these amendments plays a vital role in the progress of civil rights, but it is the 13th Amendment that directly abolished slavery.