HISTORIC ARTICLE

HISTORIC ARTICLE

Jul 28, 1868 CE: 14th Amendment Ratified

Jul 28, 1868 CE: 14th Amendment Ratified

On July 28, 1868, the 14th amendment to the United States Constitution was certified, guaranteeing the rights and privileges of citizenship to all persons born or naturalized as U.S. citizens.

Grades

8 - 11

Subjects

U.S. History

















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On July 28, 1868, the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was certified for ratification. The 14th Amendment guarantees the rights and privileges of citizenship to all persons born or naturalized as U.S. citizens. The 14th Amendment (along with the 13th and 15th Amendments) was one of the “Reconstruction amendments” passed in the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War. These amendments abolished slavery and established voting and citizenship rights primarily for African American men. These rights were later extended to women and other ethnic groups.

The 14th Amendment has four sections. The first section has four clauses: the citizenship clause, the privileges and immunities clause, the due process clause, and the equal protection clause. These clauses limit states’ authority in determining the rights of U.S. citizens.

The clauses of the 14th Amendment—especially the equal protection clause—are among the most litigated and controversial in U.S. history. Plyer v. Doe is an interpretation of the citizenship clause. It prevents states from denying public-school funding to undocumented immigrants. Roe v. Wade is an interpretation of the due process clause. It allows a woman to have an abortion under certain circumstances. Brown v. Board of Education is an interpretation of the equal protection clause. It prohibits public schools from segregating students and facilities based on race.

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National Geographic Society
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National Geographic Society
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Last Updated

January 25, 2024

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