Citizens

The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution is a key piece of legislation that was ratified on July 9, 1868. Here are the key points about the 14th Amendment:

• What it Did:

  • • • The Military Reconstruction Act required all Confederate states to ratify the 14th amendment in order to be admitted to the Union.

      • The 14th Amendment addresses issues related to citizenship, equal protection under the law, and due process.

      • Declared all people, except indigenous people, who were born in the United States were citizens and were entitled to equal rights regardless of race.  Under this amendment, citizen's rights are protected by due process of the law. 

• It consists of four main sections:

  • • • Citizenship Clause: 

        • • • Grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction.

      • Equal Protection Clause: 

        • • • Guarantees that no state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

      • Due Process Clause (1st Section): 

        • • • States that no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

      • Enforcement Clause (2nd Section): 

        • • • Grants Congress the power to enforce the provisions of the amendment through appropriate legislation.

• Significance:

  • • • The 14th Amendment aimed to ensure civil rights for all individuals, particularly newly freed slaves, in the aftermath of the Civil War.

      • The 14th Amendment was passed because of the Black Codes that were being implemented in the South.

      • It sought to overturn the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, which had denied citizenship to African Americans.

        • • • Made the Dred Scott Decision unconstitutional

• Impact:

  • • • The Citizenship Clause overturned the Dred Scott decision by granting citizenship to anyone born or naturalized in the U.S., regardless of race.

      • The Equal Protection Clause became a cornerstone for legal challenges against discrimination, setting the stage for landmark civil rights decisions in the future.

      • The Due Process Clause ensures that state and local governments cannot deprive individuals of their basic rights without a fair legal process.

• Ongoing Legacy:

  • • • The 14th Amendment continues to be a central element in debates and legal cases related to civil rights and equal protection under the law.

      • It has been invoked in various Supreme Court decisions, including cases related to desegregation, affirmative action, and same-sex marriage.

The 14th Amendment is a critical component of the Reconstruction Amendments, reflecting the nation's commitment to establishing equal rights and protection under the law for all citizens.