Question of the Week: Which Reconstruction-era amendment was the most impactful?
Which Reconstruction-era amendment to the US Constitution (13th, 14th, 15th) do you feel was most impactful to US society?
Which Reconstruction-era amendment to the US Constitution (13th, 14th, 15th) do you feel was most impactful to US society?
The 14th Amendment is the most important because it established birthright citizenship and the principles of “equal protection of the laws” and “due process,” which have been the basis for countless civil rights advancements throughout American history. While the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and the 15th granted the right to vote, the 14th provides the broader framework for citizenship and legal rights that protects all Americans from discrimination by states.
Birthright citizenship was already codified in the US Constitution in Article 1. To be eligible for the U.S. presidency, a person must be a natural-born citizen. Natural-born citizen: You must be a U.S. citizen from birth. This also applies to those who were citizens at the time the Constitution was adopted.
It was the tradition at the time, that those individuals born in the British colonies were considered citizens of Great Britain. This carried over to the newly founded United States.
It has NOTHING to do with only making the babies of slaves US citizens.
All excellent points … don’t believe, however, Article One guarantees birthright citizenship … it only gives Congress the power to legislate rules of naturalization for foreign born individuals to become citizens … the “natural born citizen” requirement for POTUS and VPOTUS is in Article Two.
You are correct! It is Article 2 which stipulates the President is to be natural; born….that means he was born in the US which automatically conferred citizenship.p
14th Amendment if we are looking at the last 160 years. It is one of the most cited amendments in legal history. Of course at the time they were ratified, the 13th Amendment had the most effect, but after 1866 it was rarely invoked.
I agree with NYGiant1952. While all three amendments were significant, the 14th was the most far reaching. I’m a special educator, and the 14th Amendment is the basis for special education law, that disabled children can receive a public education.
None.
They did affect the country however
I agree with the points already made in arguing the 14th Amendment, and add to them the importance of selective incorporation, which the 14th Amendment is the basis of.
The 14th because of its role, if delayed, in future jurisprudence.