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14th and 15th Amendments

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AP US History

Definition

The 14th and 15th Amendments are critical components of the Reconstruction Amendments to the United States Constitution, aimed at establishing and protecting the civil rights of former slaves after the Civil War. The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and guaranteed equal protection under the law, while the 15th Amendment prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Together, these amendments were designed to secure the legal rights of African Americans and reshape American democracy.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 and is often considered a cornerstone of American civil rights, laying the foundation for future legal battles over equality.
  2. The Equal Protection Clause within the 14th Amendment has been used in numerous Supreme Court cases to challenge discriminatory laws and practices.
  3. The 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870 but faced significant obstacles, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, which were used to disenfranchise Black voters well into the 20th century.
  4. Both amendments were a direct response to the injustices faced by African Americans during Reconstruction and aimed at providing a legal framework for their rights.
  5. Despite these amendments, systemic racism continued through Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation and discrimination in many southern states.

Review Questions

  • How did the 14th Amendment transform citizenship and civil rights in the United States after the Civil War?
    • The 14th Amendment transformed citizenship by establishing that all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens, thereby overturning Dred Scott v. Sandford, which denied citizenship to African Americans. It also introduced the Equal Protection Clause, which requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all individuals. This amendment fundamentally changed the legal landscape for civil rights by providing a constitutional basis for challenging discriminatory practices and laws.
  • Discuss how the 15th Amendment's intent was undermined during Reconstruction and its long-term implications for voting rights.
    • The 15th Amendment aimed to ensure that African American men had the right to vote without discrimination based on race. However, many Southern states implemented discriminatory practices like literacy tests, poll taxes, and understanding clauses that effectively disenfranchised Black voters. These tactics not only undermined the intent of the amendment during Reconstruction but also created a legacy of voter suppression that persisted long into the future, prompting further civil rights activism.
  • Evaluate how both the 14th and 15th Amendments laid the groundwork for later civil rights movements in America.
    • The 14th and 15th Amendments established foundational principles for civil rights by affirming citizenship and voting rights for African Americans. They inspired future movements by providing a constitutional basis for challenging injustice, leading to landmark cases such as Brown v. Board of Education and ultimately influencing legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. The amendments set a precedent for ongoing struggles against systemic racism, showing that legal change can be a catalyst for social change.

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