What did the 14th Amendment accomplish?

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, was a pivotal piece of legislation in American history, particularly during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. This amendment accomplished several important goals, with its key provisions being the granting of citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and guaranteeing them equal protection under the law.

By establishing that individuals born in the U.S. were citizens, the 14th Amendment effectively countered the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, which had previously ruled that African Americans could not be considered citizens. This change was monumental in ensuring that former slaves and their descendants would have the same legal status as other citizens. Furthermore, the amendment's equal protection clause mandated that states could not deny any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This became foundational for many civil rights advancements and legal rulings in the years to follow.

The other options pertain to different aspects of civil rights and voting laws. For instance, the establishment of voting rights for all men was a goal of later amendments, particularly the 15th Amendment, which specifically addressed voting rights without regard to race. The abolition of the poll tax was achieved later through the 24th Amendment, while ending slavery in the