Question

Analyze why the addition of the Fourteenth Amendment was necessary.(1 point)Responsesto give the states more power so the federal government could not limit the states’ authorityto give the states more power so the federal government could not limit the states’ authorityto limit the powers held by the states, prevent unjust treatment, and ensure equal rights for all citizensto limit the powers held by the states, prevent unjust treatment, and ensure equal rights for all citizensto clarify for the Supreme Court what rights people who had been enslaved were entitled toto clarify for the Supreme Court what rights people who had been enslaved were entitled toto further explain the rights granted in the Thirteenth Amendment, which guaranteed freedom to people who had been enslaved

Answer 1

The addition of the Fourteenth Amendment was necessary primarily to limit the powers held by the states, prevent unjust treatment, and ensure equal rights for all citizens.

After the Civil War, there was a significant concern about how newly freed African Americans would be treated in the Southern states, where discriminatory laws, known as Black Codes, were enacted to restrict their rights and maintain white supremacy. The Fourteenth Amendment aimed to provide a constitutional guarantee of equality and prevent states from denying any person, particularly previously enslaved individuals, the rights and protections afforded to them.

This amendment established citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in the United States and provided a broad definition of civil rights. It also included the Equal Protection Clause, which is vital in the ongoing struggle against discrimination and for the enforcement of civil rights. Thus, the Fourteenth Amendment plays a crucial role in limiting state power and promoting equality, making it a necessary addition to the U.S. Constitution.