Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

The 13th Amendment is the correct answer because it explicitly states that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Ratified in December 1865, this amendment marked a significant turning point in American history, as it legally abolished the institution of slavery that had been entrenched in the United States since its founding. This amendment aimed to address the moral and humanitarian crises generated by slavery and was a crucial outcome of the Civil War, aligning with the Union's victory and the broader push toward civil rights for formerly enslaved individuals.

In contrast, the 12th Amendment pertains to the procedures for electing the President and Vice President, the 14th Amendment focuses on citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, and the 15th Amendment guarantees African American men the right to vote. While all these amendments are vital to understanding the trajectory of civil rights in the United States, it is the 13th Amendment that directly abolished slavery.