5 Facts About The 14th Amendment

1) It was ratified on July 28, 1868.

2) The original purpose of the Amendment was to nullify decision in the Dred Scott v Sandford case that tried to argue that African-Americans were not citizens

3) The famous civil rights cases like Plessy v Ferguson attempted to use the 14th Amendment saying that segregation went against the amendment.

4) It wasn’t until 30 years after the ratification of the 14th Amendment that the interpretation of the amendment changed to include that any person born on American soil is considered a citizen. The case was United States v Wong Kim Ark.

5) This Amendment now protects the children of undocumented immigrants who were born on American soil.