Final answer:
The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, giving Congress the power to enforce it. It was different from the Emancipation Proclamation as it ended slavery across the entire country. The amendment, along with the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, significantly changed the lives of African Americans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 13th Amendment holds great significance as it officially and permanently banned slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. It was the first new amendment to the U.S. Constitution after the Civil War. The amendment gave Congress the power to pass legislation to enforce it, ensuring the eradication of not only slavery but also all "badges of servitude." Compared to the Emancipation Proclamation, which only freed enslaved people in rebellious states and did not prohibit slavery in general, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery across the entire United States. This brought freedom to four million people who had been enslaved for 250 years in North America. The Thirteenth Amendment, along with the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, changed the lives of African Americans. The Fourteenth Amendment granted them citizenship and equal protection under the law, while the Fifteenth Amendment granted Black men the right to vote, giving them greater political power in the United States.