What did the 13th Amendment accomplish?

The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, accomplished the significant legal change of abolishing slavery in the United States. This amendment specifically states that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to its jurisdiction. It marked a monumental shift in American history, fundamentally changing the legal status and rights of enslaved individuals by making slavery illegal, thereby ensuring that those who had been enslaved could no longer be held in bondage. This transformation laid the groundwork for subsequent civil rights advancements and was a critical step toward achieving equality in the nation.

In contrast, the other options pertain to various civil rights and legal reforms but do not align with the core purpose of the 13th Amendment. The establishment of citizenship for those born in the U.S. is addressed by the 14th Amendment, the right for women to vote was accomplished through the 19th Amendment, and the prohibition of racial discrimination in voting pertains to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Therefore, the focus of the 13th Amendment remains solely on the abolition of slavery.