14th Amendment

Citizenship Rights, Equal Protection, Apportionment, Civil War Debt

The 14th Amendment wrote the Declaration of Independence’s promise of freedom and equality into the Constitution. In early 1866, the Joint Committee on Reconstruction submitted a number of proposals to the rest of Congress, each addressing a specific problem. The proposals were then bundled into a single amendment. Finally, Congress added the Citizenship Clause. It was passed by Congress on June 13, 1866, and ratified on July 9, 1868.

Special thanks to Kurt Lash from the University of Richmond School of Law for sharing his research and expertise. Kurt Lash, The Reconstruction Amendments: Essential Documents (University of Chicago Press, 2019).

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Feb 1833

1833

Event — February 16, 1833

Court cases address rights »
Mar 1857

1857

Event — March 6, 1857

Dred Scott decision »
Dec 1865

1865

Event — December 4, 1865

39th Congress meets »
Dec 1865

1865

Event — December 6, 1865

13th Amendment is ratified »
Jan 1866

1866

Draft — January 27, 1866

Rep. Bingham looks to protect rights »
Feb 1866

1866

Event — February 28, 1866

The House debates Bingham's proposal »
Apr 1866

1866

Event — April 30, 1866

House debates the amendment »
May 1866

1866

Event — May 10, 1866

House passes amendment »
Jun 1866

1866

Draft — June 13, 1866

14th Amendment Final Text »
Nov 1866

1866

Event — November 5, 1866

Election of 1866 »
Mar 1867

1867

Event — March 2, 1867

Reconstruction Acts enacted »
Feb 1868

1868

Event — February 24, 1868

House impeaches Johnson »
Jul 1868

1868

Event — July 9, 1868

14th Amendment is ratified »

Drafts