United States of America do not have the longest history. However, there is an exceptionally bright history full of struggles and victories, rises and falls standing behind what we now call America. American history is truly unique, as America was able to transform from an underdeveloped country with agricultural economy and slave labor into one of the richest, most fascinating and most diverse countries in the world in only three hundred years. I believe that Fourteenth Amendment symbolizes the beginning of new era in America, associated with liberty, justice, and equal protection for everyone. Fourteenth Amendment was essential for guaranteeing freedom to all the American citizens and protection of those freedoms by the government. However,
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By definition, civil rights are defined in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, “especially as applied to a minority group” (dictionary.reference.com). Congress passed Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, and the first part of the Amendment introduced four clauses to protect rights of African-American citizens (archives.gov). The first clause is called Citizenship Clause and states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside” (law.cornell.edu). This means that all the people who were born in the United States are considered to be American citizens, including former slaves and their ancestors. The second clause is called Privilege Clause and states, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States…” (law.cornell.edu). This part prohibits government from creating any law that will take away any privileges from American citizens. The third clause is called Due Process Clause and states, “…Nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law” (law.cornell.edu). This clause was created in order to protect private …show more content…
However, some people argue that the first section of the amendment was not the most controversial, and most opponents of the amendment argued against other sections. According to David Hardy, “In
1866-1868 its most controversial portions were sections two, three and four. These reduced federal representation for States which denied voting rights to black citizens, deprived most former Confederate officers and officials of the power to hold elective office, and required States to disavow Confederate war debts” (Hardy, p.6). From that perspective, it seems that most people were concerned about federal representation of southern states and disclaiming war debts, rather than former slaves gaining equal rights with white
By definition, civil rights are defined in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, “especially as applied to a minority group” (dictionary.reference.com). Congress passed Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, and the first part of the Amendment introduced four clauses to protect rights of African-American citizens (archives.gov). The first clause is called Citizenship Clause and states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside” (law.cornell.edu). This means that all the people who were born in the United States are considered to be American citizens, including former slaves and their ancestors. The second clause is called Privilege Clause and states, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States…” (law.cornell.edu). This part prohibits government from creating any law that will take away any privileges from American citizens. The third clause is called Due Process Clause and states, “…Nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law” (law.cornell.edu). This clause was created in order to protect private …show more content…
However, some people argue that the first section of the amendment was not the most controversial, and most opponents of the amendment argued against other sections. According to David Hardy, “In
1866-1868 its most controversial portions were sections two, three and four. These reduced federal representation for States which denied voting rights to black citizens, deprived most former Confederate officers and officials of the power to hold elective office, and required States to disavow Confederate war debts” (Hardy, p.6). From that perspective, it seems that most people were concerned about federal representation of southern states and disclaiming war debts, rather than former slaves gaining equal rights with white