Which of the following explains how citizenship was expanded to Black people?
The Supreme Court issued the Dred Scott ruling.
The Founders placed the Diversity of Jurisdiction Clause in the Constitution.
Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment.
Congress passed the Naturalization Act of 1790.
Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment.
The correct answer is:
Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including Black people. It overruled the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision, which denied citizenship to African Americans, and solidified the legal recognition of rights for Black citizens. The Diversity of Jurisdiction Clause and the Naturalization Act of 1790 are not directly related to the expansion of citizenship to Black people.
The correct answer is "Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment."
To understand how citizenship was expanded to Black people, we need to analyze the options given.
1. The Supreme Court issued the Dred Scott ruling: The Dred Scott ruling, handed down by the Supreme Court in 1857, actually had the opposite effect and denied citizenship to Black people. The court held that Black individuals, whether enslaved or free, were not citizens and could not become citizens. Therefore, this option does not explain how citizenship was expanded.
2. The Founders placed the Diversity of Jurisdiction Clause in the Constitution: The Diversity of Jurisdiction Clause refers to Article III, Section 2 of the United States Constitution. While this clause deals with federal jurisdiction over certain types of lawsuits, it does not directly relate to expanding citizenship to Black people. Therefore, this option is not the correct explanation either.
3. Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment: The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, played a crucial role in expanding citizenship to Black people. This amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves. It aimed to ensure equal protection under the law and prevent states from denying citizenship based on race or color. Therefore, this option correctly explains how citizenship was expanded.
4. Congress passed the Naturalization Act of 1790: The Naturalization Act of 1790, while significant in establishing the process for becoming a citizen, specifically limited eligibility to "free white persons." It did not address or expand citizenship for Black people. Therefore, this option is not the correct explanation.
In summary, the correct explanation for how citizenship was expanded to Black people is that Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment, as it granted citizenship to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States, regardless of their race or color.