📚 Topic Summary
The Fourteenth Amendment is a cornerstone of American civil rights. Ratified in 1868, it addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. It was primarily intended to protect the rights of formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. Its key clauses—the Citizenship Clause, the Due Process Clause, and the Equal Protection Clause—have been the basis for numerous Supreme Court cases, shaping modern understandings of civil liberties and rights for all citizens.
This amendment ensures that all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens and that states cannot deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor deny any person equal protection of the laws. Understanding this amendment is crucial for grasping the evolution of civil rights and liberties in the United States.
🧠 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the terms on the left with their definitions on the right:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Citizenship Clause |
a. Guarantees that states cannot treat individuals differently based on race, origin, or other characteristics. |
| 2. Due Process Clause |
b. Declares that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens. |
| 3. Equal Protection Clause |
c. The legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights that are owed to a person. |
📝 Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph with the correct terms:
The Fourteenth Amendment's ___________ ensures that states cannot take away a person's basic rights to life, liberty, or property without following fair legal procedures. The ___________ grants citizenship to anyone born or naturalized in the U.S., overturning the Dred Scott decision. Finally, the ___________ prevents states from denying anyone within their jurisdiction the same legal protections.
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
How has the Fourteenth Amendment been used to expand civil rights beyond its original intent to protect formerly enslaved people? Provide specific examples.