What did the 13th Amendment accomplish?

The 13th Amendment, ratified in December 1865, accomplished the abolition of slavery in the United States. This landmark amendment formally ended the legal practice of enslaving individuals, ensuring that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude would exist in the country, except as punishment for a crime. By enshrining this principle in the Constitution, the 13th Amendment played a crucial role in transforming the legal and social landscape of the nation, marking a significant step towards civil rights and freedoms for formerly enslaved people.

The other options, while related to the broader context of post-Civil War America and the quest for equality, do not accurately describe what the 13th Amendment specifically achieved. Voting rights for former slaves would come later through the 15th Amendment, and equal protection under the law was established with the 14th Amendment. The provision of land to former slaves was proposed but not effectively implemented through post-war policies, leading to further struggles for economic independence and civil rights in the years to follow.