1868 & 1870Primary source · 2 sourcesWell documented
The Reconstruction Amendments: Citizenship and the Vote
On the timeline · around 1868 & 1870 ·
What happened
The Fourteenth Amendment (1868) made all persons born or naturalized in the United States citizens and guaranteed them 'equal protection of the laws' and 'due process.' The Fifteenth Amendment (1870) barred denying the vote 'on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude,' enfranchising Black men.
Why it matters
These amendments constitutionalized birthright citizenship and equality before the law and remain the legal foundation of virtually every civil rights advance since — from Brown v. Board to marriage equality.
Sources
- US National Archives. 14th Amendment (milestone document) (1868) · Primary source
- US National Archives. 15th Amendment (milestone document) (1870) · Primary source