What did the 13th Amendment accomplish?

The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, fundamentally transformed the legal landscape of the United States by abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. This amendment was a crucial step in civil rights progress following the Civil War, as it aimed to eliminate the institution of slavery that had existed for centuries. By prohibiting slavery, the 13th Amendment laid the groundwork for future legal advancements toward equality and civil rights.

In the context of the other options, while the 15th Amendment later guaranteed voting rights regardless of race, and the 14th Amendment established equal protection under the law, the 13th Amendment is specifically concerned with the abolition of slavery. The framework for civil rights legislation, which came into more substantial focus in the 1960s with various acts and amendments, was not the primary outcome of the 13th Amendment. Thus, its primary and most significant accomplishment remains the ending of slavery.