Question

The _____ was the first federal legislation that declared everyone born in the united states to be an american citizen. a. fourteenth amendment b. fifteenth amendment c. civil rights act of 1866 d. thirteenth amendment

Answer 1

The Fourteenth Amendment was the first federal legislation that declared everyone born in the United States to be an American citizen, granting citizenship to African Americans and providing equal protection under the law.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Fourteenth Amendment was the first federal legislation that declared everyone born in the United States to be an American citizen. This amendment was particularly significant because it granted citizenship to African Americans and ensured equal protection under both state and federal law, effectively overturning the Dred Scott decision. Additionally, the Fourteenth Amendment included a due process clause, which has been used by the Supreme Court to apply the Bill of Rights to the states, and it established equal protection of the law.

Answer 2

The correct answer is: a. Fourteenth Amendment

The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868, defined citizenship and granted it to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States, ensuring that they were recognized as American citizens.

The Fourteenth Amendment stands as the foundational federal legislation declaring birthright citizenship in the United States. Ratified in 1868, it solidifies citizenship for anyone born or naturalized within the nation's borders.

This pivotal amendment ensures that all individuals, regardless of their ancestry or circumstances of birth, are recognized as American citizens, establishing an enduring principle of citizenship based on birth location or naturalization.

Its enactment represented a significant stride toward equality and inclusion, affirming the citizenship rights of those born on American soil and emphasizing a fundamental aspect of American identity and constitutional protection.