The 13th Amendment accomplished the abolition of slavery in the United States. Ratified on December 6, 1865, it marked a significant turning point in American history, ensuring that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime, shall exist within the United States." This constitutional change was a direct outcome of the Civil War and was essential in advancing civil rights. The amendment laid the foundation for future civil rights movements, which sought to achieve equality and justice for African Americans and other marginalized groups in the nation.