The historic document that abolished the practice of slavery in the United States is the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Ratified on December 6, 1865, it formally outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. This pivotal amendment followed the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 issued by President Abraham Lincoln, which set the stage for legal abolition. The passage of the 13th Amendment marked a significant turning point in American history, ensuring that freedom and citizenship were extended to previously enslaved individuals, and reshaping the social fabric of the nation.