Why was a constitutional amendment needed to ban slavery?

A constitutional amendment was needed to ban slavery because, despite the moral and political momentum against it, the U.S. Constitution initially allowed for the institution of slavery through clauses like the Three-Fifths Compromise and protections for slaveholding states. The amendment was essential to provide a clear and unequivocal legal framework to abolish slavery nationwide, ensuring that all states were bound to uphold this principle. The passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865 marked a significant shift in American law and society, solidifying the federal government's commitment to ending slavery.