Which key event is related to the end of slavery in the United States?

The ratification of the 13th Amendment is a pivotal event in the history of the United States as it formally abolished slavery. Passed by Congress in January 1865 and ratified later that year, the 13th Amendment legally ended the institution of slavery throughout the nation, ensuring that no one could be involuntarily held as a slave.

This amendment marked a significant shift in American society and law, building upon earlier efforts and proclamations related to emancipation, such as the Emancipation Proclamation, which had announced the freedom of enslaved people in specific Confederate states but did not eliminate slavery in the entire country.

While the signing of the Constitution laid the groundwork for American government, and the Civil Rights Act aimed to secure civil rights for all citizens, the 13th Amendment directly addressed and resolved the legality of slavery itself, making it the key legislative event associated with the end of slavery in the United States.