Understanding the 14th Amendment

Chnce·

Civil Rights

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At a Glance

Grade Level10th Grade

SubjectCivil Rights

Original Prompt

Landmark Decisions and Historical Impact of the Court on American Government How have the decisions of the Supreme Court impacted individual rights, government powers, and policies over time? GOV.4.3 The student will evaluate the principle of due process by: • Explaining how the Supreme Court used the due process and equal protections clauses of the 14th Amendment to incorporate protection of individual rights and extend federal power. (GOV.4.3.a) Impact of judicial incorporation on federal powe...

This resource delves into the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, which aimed to expand citizenship and guarantee equal protection under the law to all individuals, particularly formerly enslaved people. It introduces the Due Process Clause, which prevents arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property, and the Equal Protection Clause, requiring equal treatment under the law. The resource explains the concept of Judicial Incorporation, highlighting how the Supreme Court applies the Bill of Rights to state laws through the 14th Amendment. It includes case analyses, such as 'Gitlow v. New York' and 'Timbs v. Indiana', to demonstrate the evolving relationship between federal and state powers and how this incorporation process has shifted the balance of power, enhancing the protection of individual rights against state infringement.