The 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America was adopted as a result of the Civil War. It contains the Equal Treatment clause, the right to due process in the states and the principles of citizenship law (Ius Soli). It was proposed for adoption on June 13, 1866 and ratified on July 28, 1868.
The amendment provides a far-reaching definition of US citizenship. It promises all persons (and not just nationals) the same protection of United States laws that are under the jurisdiction of the various states. The main concern of the authors was that equal protection be established regardless of race.
