July 1868

The 14th Amendment, ratified on July 9, 1868, overturned the Dred Scott decision by granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved Black Americans, and guaranteed equal protection of the laws. It became the constitutional backbone of virtually every subsequent civil rights advance in American history, from Brown v. Board of Education to marriage equality.

The 14th Amendment was ratified on July 9, 1868, establishing birthright citizenship, equal protection, and due process. The Senate passed it 33–11 in June 1866 with all opposition from Democrats. Southern states were required to ratify it as a condition of readmission. The amendment provided the constitutional basis for Black citizenship and would anchor civil rights law for 150 years.