The pivotal legislation that abolished slavery in the United States was the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified on December 6, 1865. This amendment explicitly declared, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." The passage of the 13th Amendment marked a crucial turning point in American history, following the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln. It legally freed millions of enslaved African Americans and set the stage for future civil rights advancements.