The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States granted citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to anyone born in the United States or who became a citizen of the country. This included African Americans and slaves who had been freed after the American Civil War.

The amendment discusses citizenship rights and equal protection of the laws. It was proposed in response to issues related to former slaves following the American Civil War. This amendment was bitterly contested. Southern states were forced to ratify it in order to regain representation in Congress.

The amendment granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves. It guaranteed all U.S. citizens “equal protection under the law.” It authorized the federal government to punish states that violated their citizens’ rights to vote.

Adopted on July 9, 1868, the 14th Amendment was aimed at protecting the citizenship rights and equal protection of all Americans but primarily former slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation had freed all slaves in territories then in rebellion, meaning Southern states that had seceded from the Union.

During Andrew Johnson's term, the 14th Amendment was presented to Congress. It imposed federal control over basic civil rights, removing control from the states. It's purpose was to remove the Black Codes. President Andrew Johnson worked against the amendment, which outraged people in the North.