The U.S. landmark associated with the abolition of slavery is the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. This executive order declared the freedom of slaves in the rebellious states during the Civil War, redefined the war's purpose and signaled a shift towards total abolition. Although the proclamation did not immediately free all slaves, it was a crucial step toward the eventual passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865, which permanently abolished slavery throughout the United States. Lincoln's action marked a profound moral and political turning point in American history.