Which Amendment granted the right to citizenship to former slaves?

Prepare for the Wyoming Constitution exam with our teaching license test. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions, enhanced by hints and explanations, to ensure you're exam-ready!

The Fourteenth Amendment is the correct choice because it explicitly addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. Ratified in 1868, this amendment nullified the Dred Scott decision, which had held that African Americans could not be citizens. The Fourteenth Amendment defines citizenship to include all persons born or naturalized in the United States, granting former slaves the same legal status as other citizens. Furthermore, it provides that no state shall make or enforce any law that abridges the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, ensuring that former slaves could enjoy the same rights as others.

The Thirteenth Amendment, while crucial for abolishing slavery, does not address citizenship directly. The Fifteenth Amendment focuses on the right to vote, ensuring that citizens cannot be denied that right based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The Nineteenth Amendment is about women's suffrage, granting women the right to vote, but it also does not pertain to citizenship for former slaves. Hence, the Fourteenth Amendment is the key constitutional change that granted citizenship to former slaves.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy