The 14th Amendment is ratified, granting citizenship to all persons born in the United States and guaranteeing equal protection of the laws.
At a Glance
- Date
- 9 July 1868
- Location
- United States
- Category
- Law & Justice
- Source
- 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (ratified July 9, 1868) · National Archives
What It Meant Then
It overturned Dred Scott and wrote Black citizenship into the Constitution.
What It Means Now
The amendment remains the foundation of modern civil rights law.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The 14th Amendment Is Ratified.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-14th-amendment-is-ratified/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The 14th Amendment Is Ratified. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-14th-amendment-is-ratified/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The 14th Amendment Is Ratified.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-14th-amendment-is-ratified/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.