Unit 6 - Reconstruction: The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

13th Amendment

  • Fully abolished slavery in US slave states.

  • Timeline: Passed before the Civil War ended; ratified in December 18651865 (after end of war).

  • Impact: Lincoln is backing up Thomas Jefferson's "All men are created equal," transforming it into a legal reality.

  • Southern Response: Passed "Black Codes," which were laws used to segregate and oppress freed slaves further.

14th Amendment

  • Citizenship: Everyone born or naturalized in the US is a citizen; states cannot deny or take this status away.

  • Timeline: Passed in June 18661866; ratified in July 18681868.

  • Significance: Viewed as the "most important" amendment in the Constitution; effectively overturned the Dredd vs Scott Decision that denied citizenship to Blacks.

15th Amendment

  • Voting Rights: Every male US citizen can vote regardless of race.

  • Timeline: Passed in February 18611861; ratified in February 18701870.