What did the Thirteenth Amendment achieve?

The Thirteenth Amendment, ratified in 1865, fundamentally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime. This monumental change marked a significant turning point in American history, as it formally ended the legal institution of slavery that had existed since colonial times. The amendment was a key outcome of the Civil War and was instrumental in the broader struggle for civil rights and equality, paving the way for subsequent amendments and legislation aimed at ensuring the rights of formerly enslaved individuals.

The other choices do not pertain to the Thirteenth Amendment. Granting voting rights to women is associated with the Nineteenth Amendment, established income tax is linked to the Sixteenth Amendment, and the protection of civil rights is addressed through subsequent legislation and amendments, notably the Fourteenth Amendment, but it is not the focus of the Thirteenth.