Malcolm Rivera
The US Constitution, ratified in 1788, did not restrict citizenship based on race, but it also did not grant enslaved people full citizenship. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, defined African Americans as equal citizens under the law, but it was not until the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920 that women were granted the right to vote.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 1788 |
| Race-based restrictions | None |
| Counting of enslaved people | 3/5ths of a person |
| Amendment granting women the right to vote | 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920 |
| Amendment defining African Americans as equal citizens | 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868 |
| Classes of citizens | 1) White persons born in the US as descendants of citizens, and 2) those born outside the US who had migrated and been naturalized |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution was ratified on 21 June 1788
- The Constitution became the official framework for the US government
- The Articles of Confederation governed the US before the Constitution
- The US Constitution was not ratified by all states until 29 May 1790
- The Bill of Rights was ratified on 15 December 1791
The US Constitution was ratified on 21 June 1788
Following the ratification of the Constitution, the 14th Amendment was passed in 1868, three years after the abolishment of slavery. This amendment served to define African Americans as equal citizens under the law. It also provided them with a legal basis to challenge discrimination, demand equal rights and protections, and effect change.
However, it is important to note that even after the 14th Amendment, African Americans continued to face significant barriers to full citizenship. For example, the Court held that United States citizenship was enjoyed by only two classes of people: white persons born in the United States and those who had migrated from outside the country and been naturalized. Freed slaves fell into neither of these categories.
The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 also played a crucial role in expanding citizenship rights. These acts placed former Confederate states under military rule until they ratified the 14th Amendment and established new constitutions guaranteeing equal rights and protections to African Americans. The Reconstruction Acts also granted Black men in southern states the right to vote and hold elected office for the first time.
The Evolution of the Constitution: Amendments and Ratifications
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The Constitution became the official framework for the US government
The US Constitution was ratified in 1788. It did not restrict citizenship based on race, but it also did not grant citizenship to enslaved people, instead counting them as 3/5ths of a person.
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1868, was a revolutionary law that defined African Americans as equal citizens under the law. It provided African Americans and other groups in society with a legal basis to challenge discrimination and demand equal rights and protections.
The 14th Amendment was passed three years after the abolishment of slavery. However, it is important to note that even before the 14th Amendment, African Americans regarded themselves as citizens.
The Reconstruction Acts, passed by Congress in 1867, placed former Confederate states under military rule until they ratified the 14th Amendment and established new constitutions guaranteeing equal rights and protections to African Americans. The Reconstruction Acts also granted Black men in southern states the right to vote and hold elected office.
The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote.
Federalists' Urge: Why Ratification Was Essential for Federalists
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The Articles of Confederation governed the US before the Constitution
The US Constitution was ratified in 1788. While it did not restrict citizenship based on race, it also did not grant enslaved people full citizenship. Instead, it counted them as three-fifths of a person.
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1868, was a landmark moment in the fight for citizenship rights for African Americans. It defined them as equal citizens under the law. However, it is important to note that the promises of the 14th Amendment have not always been upheld, and African Americans have continued to fight for their basic citizenship rights.
Before the US Constitution was ratified, the Articles of Confederation governed the US. This document, which was in effect from 1781 to 1789, established a loose confederation of states with a weak central government. The Articles of Confederation granted limited powers to the central government, including the ability to declare war, sign treaties, and manage relations with Native American tribes. However, it did not establish a strong executive branch or a national court system.
The Articles of Confederation also lacked a clear mechanism for enforcing its provisions, which led to challenges in governing the country effectively. As a result, the US Constitution was drafted to replace the Articles of Confederation and provide a stronger framework for governing the nation.
The Promise That Led to the Constitution's Ratification
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The US Constitution was not ratified by all states until 29 May 1790
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1868, was one of the nation's most important laws relating to citizenship and civil rights. It served to define African Americans as equal citizens under the law. The 14th Amendment provided African Americans and other groups in society with a legal basis to challenge discrimination, demand equal rights and protections, and effect change.
Before the 14th Amendment, the Court held that United States citizenship was enjoyed by only two classes of people: white persons born in the United States as descendants of persons who were recognised as citizens at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, and those who had been born outside the dominions of the United States and had migrated and been naturalised. Freed slaves fell into neither of these categories.
After the 14th Amendment was ratified, women sought to claim their full rights of citizenship under the law, including the right to vote. However, the courts did not support these claims, and so women's rights activists worked for other laws that would guarantee equal rights regardless of sex. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote.
The Founding Fathers' Constitution Ratification Strategies
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The Bill of Rights was ratified on 15 December 1791
It wasn't until the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 that African Americans were defined as equal citizens under the law. The 14th Amendment was passed three years after the abolishment of slavery and served a revolutionary purpose. It provided African Americans with a legal basis to challenge discrimination, demand equal rights and protections, and effect change.
The 14th Amendment was also important for women's rights. After it was ratified, women sought to claim their full rights of citizenship under the law, including the right to vote. However, the courts did not support these claims, and so women's rights activists worked for other laws that would guarantee equal rights regardless of sex. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, finally granted women the right to vote.
The Road to Ratification: Events Leading to the Constitution
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was ratified in 1788.
When the US Constitution was ratified, citizenship was only granted to white persons born in the United States as descendants of persons who were recognised as citizens in the several states.
When the US Constitution was ratified, citizenship was not granted to enslaved people, who were counted as 3/5ths of a person, or to freed slaves.
African Americans were granted citizenship in 1868, when the 14th Amendment was ratified.
Women were granted citizenship in 1868, when the 14th Amendment was ratified, but they were not granted the right to vote until 1920, when the 19th Amendment was ratified.
