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America Founded
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Constitution Instituted
Citizenship was not explicitly established by the Federal Government. Many states had varying laws on who could vote and in some states even woman and people of color could vote if they owned land. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
A man that was a slave sued the estate of his former master, claiming his freedom for having been brought voluntarily into free territory. The Supreme Court ruled that enslaved people were not citizens and Scott lost. -
Lincoln Elected
Lincoln's republican party took a position in opposition to the decision of Dred Scott v. Sandford, noting that free Blacks were American citizens. -
Civil War Ends
The Civil war ends, however the Southern States continue their discrimination against Black Americans, and institute "Black Codes" which impact the rights of Black Americans. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Federal government rules that those born in the United States are citizens regardless of race, this action in opposition to the restrictions and discrimination in the South. -
The 14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment is created in 1866 and ratified in 1868, defining citizenship for the first time as those born or naturalized in the United States and gives them the protection of the Bill of Rights. Southern states forced to ratify to gain federal representation.