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The Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott Decision was a major event that led up to the passing of the 14th amendment. The decision started when a slave, Dred Scott, tried to fight for his freedom in the U.S. The Dred Scott Decision declared that no African American could ever be considered a citizen of the United States. -
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The 14th Amendment
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The Joint Committee for Reconstruction is formed
The Joint Committee consisted of 15 men that were working towards Reconstruction in the U.S. The Joint Committee was formed because slaves were beginning to integrate into American society after the Civil war. The men on the Joint Committee would later be the men behind writing the 14th amendment. -
The 13th amendment is passed making slavery illegal
The 13th amendment was one of the biggest fights congress had over an amendment. Slavery was such a controversial topic in the U.S. and the outlawing of slavery was a huge step towards freedom. The 13th amendment was adopted on December 28, 1865, making it the first Reconstruction Amendment in the U.S. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 is passed
The Civil Rights Act did not seem possible after President Andrew Johnson vetoed, but regardless of that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 still passed. This act granted citizenship to anyone who was born and living in the U.S. This act stirred lots of conflict and concerns that it would only be temporary. -
The 14th amendment is passed
On June 13, 1866, the 14th amendment is passed through Congress. This was a huge step towards ratification of the 14th amendment. In order for the 14th amendment to be ratified it had to have three-quarters of the state's approval in order to be allowed in the constitution. -
Connecticut becomes the first state to ratify the amendment
On June 25, 1866, Connecticut became the very first U.S. state to ratify the 14th amendment. Being the first state to ratiafy was a huge step for the 14th amendment and acknowledgement for Conneticut. After Conneticut, New Hampshire was the next state to ratify two weeks later. -
Delaware declines the 14th amendment
After an uplifting ratification of the 14th amendment by Connecticut and New Hampshire, the 14th amendment was decline by Deleware in 1867. Deleware was the very first state on the outside of the confederate sates of america to decline the 14th amendment. Eventually in 1901 Deleware did finally decide to ratify the amendment. -
Congress passed the Reconstruction Acts
The 14th amendment went through a very long process becoming ratified especially with the southern states refusing to ratify the 14th amendment. This resulted in Congress passing the Reconstruction Acts. The Reconstruction Acts divided the Southern states into five military zones. -
Louisiana and South Carolina ratify the amendment
After the Reconstruction Acts Louisiana and South Carolina soon came to terms about the 14th amendment. In 1868 both Louisisana and South Carolina ratified the 14th amendment. This was very good news for congress for it gave them the three-fourths votes they needed to ratify the amendment. -
The 14th amendment becomes a part of the constitution
On July 28, 1868, very exciting news for Congress could be announced, for the 14th amendment had become a part of the U.S. Constitution. Although the 14th amendment was now part of the constitution it would eventually take more than a century before all the states came to terms about ratifying the amendment.
