Evaluating the Causes and Legacy of the 14th Amendment

Students will examine the motivations and origins of the 14th Amendment, examining the meaning and language of Section 1 of the 14th Amendment in particular. In doing so, students will think about how Section 1 of the 14th Amendment fundamentally changed the structure of the U.S. government and the rights and freedoms afforded to individual Americans. Students will also examine the limitations of the 14th Amendment in terms of protecting and promoting equality among marginalized groups in the United States.