July 9, 1868: The 14th Amendment is ratified

Monday 9 July 2012

The 14th Amendment, also called the Reconstruction Amendment, is one of the most important components of the Constitution. It was intended to secure rights for former slaves by providing a broad definition of citizenship, requiring states to provide equal protection under the law to all persons within their jurisdiction. In addition, the amendment includes both the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses. The amendment was used extensively to bring down segregation and has been a force behind key issues such as privacy rights and abortion.