Existing comment:
Equal Protection of the Laws:
In the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, the Constitution was amended to abolish slavery, establish civil equality, and guarantee all men the right to vote.
Ratified on July 9, 1868, the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States," thereby granting citizenship to former slaves. It also stated that "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." With language echoing the Declaration of Independence, all Americans were not only created equal but were to be treated equally before the law.
Racism, segregation, and disenfranchisement limited the effect of the 14th Amendment until the 1960s and beyond. Yet, over time its impact was deep and widespread. It has been cited by those on both sides of contentious social issues ranging from abortion to marriage equality for gays and lesbians. |