Jeremy taught elementary school for 18 years in in the United States and in Switzerland. He has a Masters in Education from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. He's taught grades 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8. His strength is in educational content writing and technology in the classroom
14th Amendment Lesson for Kids: Definition & Summary
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, is the longest amendment in the U.S. Constitution. Ratified means that it was officially approved and signed into law. The most important part of the amendment is its clear definition of citizenship. Citizenship defines in what country you can legally live, work, vote, and pay taxes. The 14th Amendment gives citizenship rights to anyone who was born in the United States. It also states that once a person has been granted citizenship, it cannot be taken away unless that person lied to get it in the first place.
After the American Civil War, this definition was very important to African-American slaves that were born in the United States. It provided them with instant citizenship and allowed them to legally live and work in the country.

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Yes! Keep playing.Effect on the Bill of Rights
Defining a citizen is not the only thing that the 14th Amendment covers; it also makes sure that citizens in different states are given certain rights as well. Until the 14th Amendment was ratified, the Bill of Rights only applied to the federal government. When it was added to the U.S. Constitution, the 14th Amendment made sure that the Bill of Rights applied to all state governments, as well as the federal government.
The 14th Amendment also gave citizens the right of due process. Due process means that citizens receive fair treatment throughout the court system and under the laws, both at the federal and state levels. The 14th Amendment also gives people equal protection under that law. This means that it doesn't matter what gender, race, or religion you are, you must be treated fairly by the courts.
Finally, the 14th Amendment defines the number of state representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives. These numbers are based on the states' populations.
Effect on the South
After the American Civil War ended in 1865, the 14th Amendment not only granted citizenship to black slaves, but also prevented former slave owners and some members of the Southern Confederacy from receiving money or participating in the government.
For example:
- Section 3 of the 14th Amendment prevented the Confederates, who rebelled against the federal government during the Civil War, from holding public office.
- The equal rights portion of the 14th Amendment prevented states from treating blacks differently from whites, at least on paper.
- Section 4 of the 14th Amendment did not allow former slave owners to be 'paid back' for their freed slaves, even though they argued that the slaves were their property.
Lesson Summary
Let's review. The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was ratified, or approved and signed into law, in 1868 and played an important part in defining U.S. citizenship. It says that anyone born in the United States is a citizen and that all states must give citizens the same rights guaranteed by the federal government in the Bill of Rights. The 14th Amendment also says that all citizens have the right to due process and equal protection under the law in all states. It was most beneficial to former slaves after the American Civil War.
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Back14th Amendment Lesson for Kids: Definition & Summary
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- What does the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause mean?
- How does the Citizenship Clause limit state power?
- When was the Citizenship Clause implemented into the 14th Amendment?
- How does the Citizenship Clause fit into modern government?
- Where in the Constitution is the Citizenship Clause found?
- Is the 14th Amendment known as the Equal Protection Clause?
- Why is the Citizenship Clause important?
- For the 14th Amendment, who specifically is included in the meaning of its provisions? In addition to the obvious key provision, what else does the amendment include and why did advocates think that was necessary? Thinking of the American political lan
- What constitutional rights are protected under the 14th Amendment?
- Is the 14th Amendment equivalent to inalienable rights?
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