Which constitutional amendment abolishes slavery in the United States?

• A. 13th Amendment (1865)
• B. 14th Amendment (1868)
• C. 15th Amendment (1870)
• D. Freedmen's Bureau (1865-1872)

Answer: (A)

Slavery is ended in the United States by a constitutional change that explicitly bans it and prohibits involuntary servitude. The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, does exactly that and also allows punishment for crimes through due process. This amendment was a key step in Reconstruction, solidifying freedom for millions of formerly enslaved people and giving Congress the power to enforce the ban. The other options represent different directions: the 14th Amendment defines citizenship and guarantees equal protection under the law; the 15th Amendment protects voting rights regardless of race or former condition of servitude; and the Freedmen’s Bureau was a federal agency created to assist freedpeople, not an amendment. Therefore, the 13th Amendment is the one that abolishes slavery.