The 14th amendment was proposed July 28th, 1868. The amendment gives citizenship to anyone born or naturalized in the U.S. This included former slaves even if they had just been freed after the civil war. The law was proposed because all Americans were not receiving the same rights based on religion, ethnicity, and race. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in April of 1965. He was the one that issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation saying that any slaves could be free. The 14th amendment was in a way similar saying that all should be free to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The law guaranteed everyone equal rights. African Americans had a very strong opinion towards this law because they weren’t usually treated equally to all the other Americans. When the states were approving the law most of the Southern States resisted. But they had to take consideration of the 13th amendment, that protected the African Americans rights so the law passed. The first …show more content…
Then it added, “nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.” That sentence means that all should be able to live and experience the same life without being stopped. When it talks about citizenship it refers to have the rights to be an American and be free.

TALK ABOUT CHANGES

Some challenges that had to be faced were that not everyone agreed with the new law. For a long period of time, people from different races, ethnicities, and religions have not been respected even though they are an American. Many disliked people that had something different than them so they didn’t get the rights they deserved. There were many protests, deaths, and other ways that the 14th