Question

Why did Congress also submit the Fourteenth Amendment in 1866 confirming citizenship for ex-slaves?

A) To provide legal protection for ex-slaves' citizenship rights
B) To ensure that the Civil Rights Act would be upheld by the courts
C) To prevent future Congresses from revoking ex-slaves' citizenship
D) To establish equal protection under the law for all citizens, including ex-slaves

Answer 1

The Fourteenth Amendment was introduced to ensure citizenship for ex-slaves, provide equal protection under the law, and prevent future legislation from infringing upon these rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Fourteenth Amendment was submitted by Congress in 1866 to address several issues surrounding the post-Civil War status of ex-slaves. Primarily, it served to confirm citizenship for ex-slaves and to provide them with legal protection under the law.

Beyond establishing citizenship, the Amendment included the Equal Protection Clause, which mandated that no state could deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws, thus ensuring equal rights under both federal and state laws and guarding against discriminatory state legislation. Additionally, the Amendment aimed to overturn the Dred Scott decision and to safeguard citizenship and civil rights from being undermined by any future changes in Congress or state laws.