The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 6, 1865, and it abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime. This amendment was a crucial milestone in Black history as it formally ended the institution of slavery that had been enshrined in the country since its founding.

The 13th Amendment was a turning point for millions of enslaved African Americans who had endured generations of forced labor, violence, and inhumane treatment. While the amendment marked the legal end of slavery, it did not immediately grant full equality or protection to Black Americans, leading to the continued struggle for civil rights in the following years and decades.

The passage of the 13th Amendment was a significant achievement in the long and ongoing fight for freedom, equality, and justice for Black Americans, and it laid the groundwork for further advancements in civil rights and social progress in the United States.