TODAY IN HISTORY: The Fourteenth Amendment (July 9, 1868)

On July 9, 1868, a pivotal moment in American history unfolded as the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. This amendment reshaped the legal landscape of the nation by mandating that no state could deny any person “life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” nor could it refuse “equal protection of the laws” to anyone within its jurisdiction. These deceptively simple words laid the foundation for some of the most transformative Supreme Court rulings of the past century.

Originally crafted in the wake of the Civil War, the Fourteenth Amendment was intended to secure full citizenship and equal rights for formerly enslaved people. Yet, its influence has reached far beyond the Reconstruction Era, becoming a bedrock of civil rights in the United States. Through its Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses, this amendment has expanded protections to all Americans, safeguarding fundamental rights against unfair state actions.

From landmark cases like Brown v. Board of Education that ended racial segregation in public schools, to Roe v. Wade which addressed reproductive rights, and Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage, the Fourteenth Amendment has been at the heart of major legal battles for justice and equality. Its far-reaching impact continues to shape the interpretation of civil rights and liberties, solidifying its role as one of the most consequential amendments in the U.S. Constitution.