Final answer:
The part of the Fourteenth Amendment defining citizenship in the United States is the citizenship clause in Section 1, stating that all persons born or naturalized in the country are citizens. It is fundamental to the principle of jus soli and has been further clarified by additional laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which part of the Fourteenth Amendment defines citizenship?
The part of the Fourteenth Amendment that defines citizenship is primarily located in its first section. This section stipulates, "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." This citizenship clause not only grants citizenship based on birth or naturalization but also extends due process and equal protection under the law to all citizens. It played a key role in overturning the Dred Scott decision and further provided a constitutional foundation for the civil rights that were being sought during the Reconstruction era.
The Amendment is built upon the principle of jus soli, the right of anyone born on U.S. soil to be considered a citizen. It also addressed the legal status of African Americans, affirming their citizenship at both the federal and state levels. Moreover, while it established the groundwork for citizenship, certain aspects of citizenship have been further clarified through subsequent laws and Title 8 of the U.S. Code.