The Importance of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United...

The importance of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is such that some have called it the amendment that â€Å"completed the Constitution.† When it was ratified on July 9th, 1868, the amendment became one of legislative cornerstones of the Reconstruction Era, a time in which the Radical Republicans, led by John A. Bingham and Thaddeus Stevens, promulgated a legislative program focused on providing racial equality before the law. Among the laws passed in the Reconstruction Era, the Fourteenth Amendment was one of the most controversial, with one Republican congressman, Representative A.J. Rogers of New Jersey saying that it was, â€Å"†¦but another attempt to†¦consolidate in the Federal Government, by the action of Congress,†¦show more content†¦The conquering North was hoping to, as was said by Abraham Lincoln in his Second Inaugural Address, â€Å"bind up the nation’s wounds,† and obtain, â€Å"a lasting peace, amo ng ourselves, and with all nations.† However, the South, while it had been forced to discontinue slavery, was not prepared to accept Blacks as equal citizens, either politically or socially. In late 1865, Southern states began creating the set of laws that became known as the â€Å"Black Codes,† severely restricting the rights of the newly freed African-Americans living in the South. The degree to which the Black Codes limited freedom of African-Americans would eventually become one of the major motivations for the passage of first the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and finally, in 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment. By March of 1866, eight states of the former Confederacy had adopted various laws limiting the freedoms of African-Americans. In the Slaughterhouse Cases (1873), some of the first Supreme Court cases to deal with the Fourteenth Amendment, the opinion of Justice Samuel F. Miller provided a listing of the rights that had been abridged under the Black Codes: †Å"[African-Americans] were in some states forbidden to appear in the towns in any other character than menial servants. They were required to reside on and cultivate the soil without the right to purchase or own it. They were excluded from many occupations†¦andShow MoreRelated 14th Amendment -EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW Essay939 Words   |  4 Pagesthe founding fathers of this nation created a Constitution which included laws that dealt with individual freedoms. However great the founding fathers envisioned the United States Constitution, it did not form a perfect union and justice for all. America would have to amend, or add to, the Constitution in order to serve its constituents better. The most powerful constitutional act towards equality would come with the fourteenth amendment. This amendment permanently changed constitutional law by empoweringRead MoreThe Importance of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifthteenth Amendendments1493 Words   |  6 PagesThe Thirteent h, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments of The United States Constitution were important for implementing a total reconstruction of America and the blessings of of liberty to everyone that lived within the borders or our country. These ideas of equality would be reached out to the entire population including but not limited to slaves and their descendants and all American Citizens. These Amendments were especially important to African Americans and minorities who were the main victimsRead MoreThe State Of Washington And The United States1068 Words   |  5 PagesFacts: The State of Washington is the Petitioner in this case along with the Attorney General. The Respondents are Washington medical physicians. The physicians in this case periodically treated patients that were terminally ill. The physicians claimed that they would provide assistance for the patients in ending their lives if it were not for Washington State’s ban on assisted suicides, Wash. Rev. Code  § 9A.26.060(1). The Respondents believed that Washington’s ban was unconstitutional. InRead MoreThe Court Case Of Powell Vs. Alabama During The 1930s806 Words   |  4 PagesSupreme Court Case The United States’ attention was captivated on the Supreme Court Case of Powell vs Alabama during the 1930s. During the time period, this case revealed the brutal treatment towards African Americans more than any other event. The case began on March 25, 1931, when a group of young white and African American youths were traveling on a train to find a job. A physical encounter broke out between them and the white youths were thrown out of the train. Then they reported the incidentRead MoreCivil Rights And The Bill Of Rights Essay1280 Words   |  6 Pagesrights and liberties worldwide is a luxury that all countries do not have and are not given to them. In America the people have the Constitution and the Bill of Rights that enumerate their inalienable rights. In the State of Texas there is also a constitution and a Bill of Rights for the people. One of the most important rights in the Texas Bill of Rights in the constitution is Article 1 Section 3 and 3a titled Equality and Equ ality Under the Law. There are differences between civil rights and civil libertiesRead MoreThe Reconstruction Era Was A Success1490 Words   |  6 PagesThe Reconstruction Era was a Success Shortly after the Civil War ended in 1867, President Abraham Lincoln’s new objective was to unify the union and the confederate states into what was formerly known as the United States of America. This time period is known as the Reconstruction Era, starting with the surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House in 1865 and ending with the implementation of the Compromise of 1877. The Reconstruction Era was a time period full of political, economicRead MoreCivil Liberties are Constitutional Protections Against the Government1681 Words   |  7 Pagesapply to state governments. In 1833 in Barron v. Baltimore, the Supreme Court ruled that the Bill of Rights only applies to the national government and does not include protections against state governments. Barron sought redress under the just compensation clause of the Fifth Amendment. Justice John Marshall said the United States Constitution cannot be applied to state laws. This ruling was a major boost for statesâ €™ rights. (pg. A107-111) The Fourteenth Amendment was passed in 1868 states that anyoneRead MoreIs National Citizenship Irrelevant Outside the United States?1256 Words   |  5 Pagesanswered with a single word: Depends. Within the United States, national citizenship has conferred rights and duties that remain viable hundreds of years after their creation. Outside the United States, national citizenship is essentially irrelevant. National Citizenship Is Still Relevant as a Nationally-Ascribed Designator of Membership and Rights Within the United States but It is Essentially Irrelevant Outside the United States Within the United States In the Ancient World, citizenship conferredRead MoreThe Case Of Samuel Roth921 Words   |  4 Pagesmen appealed to the Supreme Court and their cases were merged together. 3. Questions of the Case Did the California or Federal Statute violate David Albert and Samuel Roth’s First Amendment freedom of speech? Did California violate David Alberts Due Process? 4. Holding No. The ruling was 6-3 in favor of the United States. The ruling was 7-2 in favor of California. 5. Opinion of the Court Justice Brennan delivered the opinion of the Court. Roth ran a business in New York by selling books, photos,Read MoreReconstruction Is The Effort Made In The United States1566 Words   |  7 PagesReconstruction is the effort made in the United States to restructure the political, legal, and economic systems in the states seceded from the Union. The Reconstruction Era last between the years of 1865-1877. The Civil War caused destruction and several deaths throughout the South in 1865. This struggle was compensated by radical Republicans who felt that they were in control of Southerners by punishing them for wanting to preserve their southern tradition. How would the North and the South come