The main goal of the abolitionist movement in the 19th century was to end the institution of slavery and promote racial equality. Activists sought to abolish slavery, particularly in the United States and parts of Europe, believing that every human being deserved freedom and equal rights. Prominent figures such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and William Lloyd Garrison spearheaded efforts that included writing, speeches, and underground networks to assist escaped slaves. The movement contributed to heightened tensions leading to the American Civil War, eventually leading to the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865, which formally abolished slavery in the United States.