Which amendment abolished slavery in 1865?

• A. 19th Amendment
• B. 24th Amendment
• C. 13th Amendment
• D. 26th Amendment

Answer: (C)

Ending slavery in the United States was achieved through a constitutional amendment ratified in 1865 that outlaws slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. This gave slavery a nationwide legal prohibition, closing gaps that existed before and after the Civil War and establishing a permanent, nationwide guarantee of freedom. The timing is important—coming right after the war—because it fundamentally redefined citizenship and rights across the country. The other amendments mentioned focus on voting rights (women’s suffrage, poll taxes, and lowering the voting age) rather than ending slavery, so they do not address the abolition question.