What did the 14th Amendment do?

Why This Matters

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, is one of the most important amendments in the Constitution. It did two major things. First, it gave citizenship to all persons born in the United States, including formerly enslaved people. Before this amendment, the Supreme Court had ruled in the Dred Scott case that African Americans could not be citizens. The 14th Amendment overturned that ruling permanently.

Second, the 14th Amendment guaranteed that all citizens receive equal protection under the law. This means the government must treat all people fairly and cannot create laws that single out one group for unfair treatment. This principle of equal protection has been used in countless court cases over the years to fight discrimination based on race, gender, and other characteristics.

For anyone going through the citizenship process, the 14th Amendment has a very personal connection. It established the legal principle that being born on American soil makes you an American, a concept known as birthright citizenship. It also created the legal foundation for the idea that every citizen, no matter their background, deserves to be treated equally by the government. These principles remain at the heart of American law and identity.

Key Facts

• The 14th Amendment was ratified on July 9, 1868
• It is the second of the three Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, 15th)
• It overturned the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision of 1857
• The equal protection clause has been used in landmark cases like Brown v. Board of Education
• It applies to state governments as well as the federal government

Common Mistakes

• Confusing the 14th Amendment with the 13th, the 13th freed the slaves, the 14th gave them citizenship and equal protection
• Saying the 14th Amendment gave the right to vote, that was the 15th Amendment
• Forgetting that the 14th Amendment has two key parts: birthright citizenship and equal protection

Study Tip

Remember "14 = citizen." The 14th Amendment answers the question "Who is an American?" If you were born here, you are a citizen. And once you are a citizen, the law must treat you the same as everyone else. Citizenship plus equality, that is the 14th in two words.