What did the 13th Amendment accomplish?

The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution accomplished the abolition of slavery. Ratified in December 1865, it formally prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. This amendment was a pivotal moment in American history, marking the end of legal slavery in the United States, which had been a foundational institution since colonial times. The passage of the 13th Amendment was a significant outcome of the Civil War and aligned with the broader movement toward civil rights and equality.

The other options pertain to different aspects of civil rights and government legislation. Women's suffrage, for instance, was primarily addressed by the 19th Amendment, which was ratified in 1920, long after the 13th Amendment. Civil rights movements continued to evolve over decades and culminated in landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Similarly, the establishment of an income tax was formalized with the 16th Amendment, ratified in 1913, and is not related to the abolition of slavery. Thus, the correct answer highlights the specific achievement of the 13th Amendment in eradicating slavery from legal foundations in the United States.