The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. It was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified by the states on December 6, 1865. The amendment was a significant milestone in Black history as it officially ended centuries of legalized slavery in the United States.

After the Civil War, the 13th Amendment paved the way for the freedom and liberation of millions of enslaved African Americans. However, despite the amendment's passage, many Black people continued to face systemic racism and discrimination through laws such as Jim Crow segregation and the Black Codes, which limited their rights and freedoms.

The 13th Amendment's impact on Black history was profound, marking the beginning of a long struggle for civil rights and equality that continues to this day. It laid the foundation for subsequent civil rights legislation and movements that aimed to secure full citizenship and rights for African Americans in the United States.