The 13th Amendment abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude (except as punishment for crime).

• A. Grants citizenship to all persons born in the United States.
• B. Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude (except as punishment for crime).
• C. Prohibits poll taxes in federal elections.
• D. Guarantees equal protection under the law.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that the 13th Amendment bans slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the United States, with a specific exception for punishment for crime. This means slavery cannot exist, but courts can require certain labor as part of a criminal sentence. The statement that matches this exactly is the best choice because it reflects both the prohibition and the allowed exception that the amendment enshrines. This distinction is important: the abolition is total in all contexts, while the punishment-for-crime carve-out provides a constitutional basis for certain forms of labor tied to criminal penalties.

Historically, that exception has had real consequences, such as convict leasing and other labor arrangements tied to incarceration, which have stirred ongoing debates about sentencing and reform. The other options refer to different protections: birthright citizenship is tied to the 14th Amendment, prohibitions on poll taxes relate to the 24th Amendment, and equal protection under the law is also a feature of the 14th Amendment.