APUSH Amendments

Bill of Rights (Amendments 1–10, 1791)

This set of amendments protects fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, the right to bear arms, protection against unreasonable search and seizure, and the right to due process and a fair trial. It addresses concerns raised by Anti-Federalists who feared a strong central government.

13th Amendment (1865)

This amendment formally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude across the United States, marking a significant turning point in American history and fulfilling a key objective of the Union during the Civil War.

14th Amendment (1868)

This amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States—including formerly enslaved people—and guaranteed all citizens equal protection under the law. It was intended to prevent states from passing discriminatory laws.

15th Amendment (1870)

This amendment prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." It aimed to enfranchise African American men following the Civil War.

16th Amendment (1913)

This amendment allows the federal government to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on census results. It has become a primary source of revenue for the federal government.

17th Amendment (1913)

This amendment changed the way U.S. Senators were elected, allowing voters in each state to directly elect their senators. Previously, senators were chosen by state legislatures.

18th Amendment (1919)

This amendment, also known as Prohibition, banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States. It was later repealed by the 21st Amendment.

19th Amendment (1920)

This amendment granted women the right to vote, marking a major milestone in the women's rights movement and expanding democracy in the United States.

21st Amendment (1933)

This amendment repealed the 18th Amendment, ending the era of Prohibition in the United States. It is the only amendment to explicitly repeal a previous amendment.

22nd Amendment (1951)

This amendment limits the president to a maximum of two terms in office, or a total of ten years if they served more than two years of another president's term. It was passed in response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office.

24th Amendment (1964)

This amendment prohibits the use of poll taxes or any other tax as a prerequisite for voting in federal elections, ensuring that people are not disenfranchised due to their economic status.

26th Amendment (1971)

This amendment lowered the voting age in federal and state elections from 21 to 18 years old. It was partly a response to the Vietnam War, where young people were being drafted but could not vote.