Question 39

The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery.

The Thirteenth Amendment, ratified in 1865, explicitly abolished slavery in the United States, making it illegal and prohibiting involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.

A) Gave women the vote

This option is incorrect because the right to vote for women was established later with the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. The Thirteenth Amendment focused solely on abolishing slavery and did not address voting rights.

B) Abolished slavery

This option is correct as the Thirteenth Amendment directly states that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States, thus legally ending the institution of slavery.

C) Granted right to bear arms

This option is incorrect because the right to bear arms is addressed in the Second Amendment, not the Thirteenth Amendment. The Thirteenth Amendment does not pertain to gun rights or ownership.

D) Guaranteed freedom of religion

This option is incorrect as freedom of religion is protected under the First Amendment, while the Thirteenth Amendment specifically focuses on the abolition of slavery and does not address religious freedoms.

Conclusion

The Thirteenth Amendment is definitively significant as it abolished slavery, marking a crucial turning point in American history. Other options fail to relate to the Amendment’s core purpose, which was solely to end the practice of slavery in the United States.