Which amendment abolished slavery?

The Thirteenth Amendment is the correct answer because it unequivocally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. Ratified in December 1865, this amendment marked a significant turning point in American history, particularly in the context of the Civil War and the subsequent efforts to establish and protect civil rights for formerly enslaved individuals.

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 definitive legal language removed the legal foundation for slavery and ensured that it could not be reinstated, thus providing a constitutional guarantee for freedom.

In contrast, the other amendments mentioned focus on different issues: the Eleventh Amendment deals with state sovereign immunity; the Fourteenth Amendment primarily addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law; and the Nineteenth Amendment grants women the right to vote. Each of these amendments plays an important role in shaping American rights and governance, but only the Thirteenth Amendment fundamentally abolished slavery.