What does the 13th Amendment prohibit?

The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution specifically prohibits the practice of involuntary servitude and slavery. Ratified in 1865, this amendment was a significant milestone in American history, marking the formal abolition of slavery and ensuring that no individual could be forced into labor against their will.

The language of the amendment clearly states that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime, shall exist within the United States. This was a direct response to the atrocities and injustices of slavery that had persisted prior to the Civil War, and it laid the groundwork for further civil rights advances in the United States.

The other options provided relate to different aspects of civil rights and equality: discrimination based on race and the creation of racial classifications pertain more broadly to civil rights legislation, while denial of women's suffrage speaks to voting rights specifically. However, none of these directly address the prohibition of slavery and involuntary servitude, which is the sole focus of the 13th Amendment.