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14th and 15th Amendments

Definition

The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States—including former slaves—and guaranteed all citizens “equal protection of the laws.” The 15th Amendment prohibited governments from denying U.S. citizens the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Analogy

Think of these amendments as updates to a video game. Just like how an update can fix bugs or add new features to improve gameplay for everyone equally, these amendments were added to "update" the Constitution and ensure equal rights for all citizens.

Related terms

Reconstruction Era: The period after the Civil War in which attempts were made to solve the political, social and economic problems arising from readmission of the Southern states into Union; during this time both amendments were passed.

Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in Southern states despite constitutional amendments guaranteeing equality.

Voting Rights Act of 1965: A landmark piece of federal legislation in United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting; it was enacted partially due to widespread violation of 15th amendment.