14th AMENDMENT

WHAT IS THE 14TH AMENDMENT?

• The amendment grants citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" which included former slaves that were freed after the Civil War.
• Was ratified on July 28, 1868

PROTECTIONS THAT ARE PROVIDED

• Citizenship rights
• Equal protection of laws
• It was a proposed response to issues related to former slaves following the American Civil War.

CASES

• Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
• Brown v. Board of Education. (1954)
• Gitlow v. New York (1925)

OUTCOMES OF THE CASES

• Plessy v. Ferguson: They went through segregation "Equal but separate accommodation" did not violate the 14th Amendment.
• Brown v. Board of Education: Black school children wished to go to white schools. Court ruled the doctrine of separation but equal has no place and separate education facilities are inherently unequal. Courts ruled the schools integrate led to civil rights changes

OUTCOMES OF THE CASES

• Gitlow v. New York: An article printed advocating the forceful overthrow of the government
• Supreme Court expressed that the Amendment applied to the New York through the due process clause of the 14th amendment.

CURRENT EVENTS OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT

• Same sex marriage: People fought for their equal rights.
• Many argued that a person should be able to marry who they love.

CONTROVERSIES/DEBATES

• Donald Trump stated that he can change the birthright rules but others think his plan is unrealistic.
• Birthright citizenship is not mandated by the constitution but by the Immigration and Nationality Act under section 301(c).

QUESTIONS

• What year was the 14th Amendment ratified?
• What is the 14th Amendment about?
• What protections does it provide?
• What are one of the cases?
• What were one of the controversies?

ANSWERS

• QUESTION #1: The 14th Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868
• QUESTION #2: The 14th Amendment was about granting citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States"
• QUESTION #3: The protections that the 14th Amendment provides are Citizenship rights, and Equal protection of laws,
• QUESTION #4: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
• QUESTION #5: Donald Trump stated that he can change the birthright rules but others think his plan is unrealistic.