14th Amendment
Definition
The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States,” including former slaves, and guarantees all citizens “equal protection of the laws.”
Analogy
Imagine a school club that initially only allowed seniors. Then, a new rule is introduced stating that anyone who attends the school can join, regardless of their grade level. This is similar to how the 14th Amendment extended citizenship and equal rights to everyone born or naturalized in the U.S., regardless of their previous status.
Related terms
Equal Protection Clause: Part of 14th Amendment ensuring that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction "the equal protection of the laws."
Civil Rights Act of 1866: An act passed by Congress declaring that all persons born in United States were now citizens, without regard to race, color, or previous condition.
Due Process Clause: A clause in both 5th and 14th Amendments protecting citizens from arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property by government outside sanction of law.
"14th Amendment" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Study guides (4)
Practice Questions (8)
What does the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment guarantee?
What does the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause protect?
Which clause in the 14th amendment is critical for selective incorporation?
What does the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment do?
What was the impact of the 14th Amendment's selective incorporation doctrine on state laws regarding individual freedoms?
How did the historical context of racial segregation impact the application of the 14th Amendment during the Civil Rights Movement?
Had the Supreme Court held that the 14th Amendment did not incorporate any of the Bill of Rights, how might state governments operate differently today?
How did the context of post-Civil War Reconstruction influence the drafting of the 14th Amendment?
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.