Assess which of the following amendments has had the greatest impact on increasing civil rights
A. 21st
B.14th
C.12th
D.27th
The 14th Amendment has had the greatest impact on increasing civil rights.
The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, grants equal protection under the law to all citizens and prevents states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This amendment has been crucial in expanding civil rights and has been the basis for numerous landmark Supreme Court decisions that have advanced equal rights for marginalized groups.
The 14th Amendment was instrumental in overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and laying the foundation for the desegregation of schools in Brown v. Board of Education (1954). It has also been pivotal in protecting individual liberties, including the right to due process and the right to privacy, as seen in cases such as Roe v. Wade (1973) and Obergefell v. Hodges (2015).
In contrast, the other amendments listed have had more limited impacts on civil rights.
- The 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition and restored the right to consume alcoholic beverages, but it is not directly related to civil rights.
- The 12th Amendment revised the process of electing the President and Vice President, which does not directly impact civil rights.
- The 27th Amendment, ratified in 1992, deals with congressional pay and does not directly affect civil rights.
Therefore, the 14th Amendment is the most significant in terms of increasing civil rights.
Which of the following best describes a governmental action that would be considered a violation of the first amendment? 1 point
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which of the following statements best explains how the tenth amendment limits the power of the national government 1 point
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which of the following best describes the nature of delegated power 1 point
A.
B.
C.
D.
I apologize, but you didn't provide any options for me to assess for the first question. Could you please provide the options? Similarly, for the second and third questions, I would need the options to provide an appropriate answer.
The amendment that has had the greatest impact on increasing civil rights is the 14th Amendment. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the reasons why:
1. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, is one of the post-Civil War Reconstruction Amendments. Its primary purpose was to protect the rights of newly freed slaves and ensure equal protection under the law for all citizens.
2. The amendment has several key clauses that have been instrumental in expanding civil rights:
a. Equal Protection Clause: This clause states that no state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. It has been used to challenge discriminatory practices and laws based on race, gender, national origin, and other protected classes.
b. Due Process Clause: The due process clause has been interpreted to include various fundamental rights, such as the right to privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. This clause has been a powerful tool in extending civil rights beyond race and improving the overall fairness of legal procedures.
3. The 14th Amendment has been the basis for several landmark Supreme Court decisions that have significantly impacted civil rights:
a. Brown v. Board of Education (1954): This case declared racially segregated public schools as unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson. This decision set the stage for desegregation efforts across the country.
b. Loving v. Virginia (1967): The Supreme Court ruled that laws banning interracial marriage violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This decision struck down anti-miscegenation laws nationwide and recognized the fundamental right to marry regardless of race.
c. Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): The Court held that the 14th Amendment requires states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and recognize their marriages performed in other states. This decision legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, a major milestone for LGBTQ+ civil rights.
Overall, the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses have played a crucial role in advancing civil rights for marginalized groups and laying the foundation for a more inclusive society.