Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, which granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including Black people, overturning the discriminatory Dred Scott decision. Option D is the correct answer.
The expansion of citizenship to Black people in the United States is primarily associated with the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Ratified in 1868, this amendment granted citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof."
It was a crucial step in overturning the Dred Scott decision and ensuring equal protection under the law for all citizens, regardless of race. The Fourteenth Amendment played a significant role in defining citizenship rights and contributed to the advancement of civil rights in the post-Civil War era. The correct answer is option D.
The complete question is:
Which of the following explains how citizenship was expanded to Black people?
A. The Founders placed the Diversity of Jurisdiction Clause in the Constitution.
B. The Supreme Court issued the Dred Scott ruling.
C. Congress passed the Naturalization Act of 1790.
D. Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment.