Final answer:
The Civil War Amendments demonstrated the supremacy of the national government by granting it broad powers to ensure equal rights and protections for individuals, such as abolishing slavery and securing voting rights for African Americans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Civil War Amendments, consisting of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution, demonstrated the supremacy of the national government by granting it broad powers to ensure the rights and protections of individuals. These amendments were passed in the aftermath of the Civil War and aimed to abolish slavery, guarantee equal protection under the law, and secure voting rights for African Americans.
For example, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, effectively ending the institution of slavery in the United States. This demonstrated the national government's power to override state laws and practices.
Similarly, the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and guaranteed equal protection of the laws. It also restricted states from infringing upon the basic rights of citizens. This further established the national government as the supreme authority, as it could enforce these protections and ensure equal treatment for all citizens.
The 15th Amendment, in turn, protected the voting rights of African American men. It explicitly stated that the right to vote could not be denied or abridged based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. By superseding any state laws or practices that aimed to disenfranchise African Americans, the national government asserted its dominance over the states and reinforced its role in safeguarding civil rights.
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