How Did The 14th Amendment Impact The Abolitionist Movement

In the 1800s, slavery became a major issue in the United States. Many people were fighting for abolition including Fredrick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner truth, and William Lloyd Garrison. Abolitionists were fighting for the abolishment of slavery, while slave owners were fighting to keep it. Abolitionists believed that slavery was morally wrong and should not be tolerated in any way. On the other hand, slave owners felt that slavery was a necessary part of life and had been around for a long time. The issue of slavery continued to boil as tensions between the north and the south got closer and closer to all out war

One of the most important ways that the 14th Amendment impacted the abolitionist movement was by granting citizenship and equal protection under the law to all freed slaves. Prior to the amendment, slaves were not considered legal citizens and had no legal rights or protections in fact they were counted as less than human and were horribly mistreated. The amendment declared that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside" (Britannica schools, Fourteenth amendment). This ensured that all freed slaves were granted the rights and protections that come with

People like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and William Lloyd Garrison were some necessary parts to fueling Americans public opinion against slavery. Through their tireless work, these activists managed to sow the seeds of change that eventually brought about the Thirteenth and the Fourteenth Amendment. They used powerful ways of writing to advocate for an end to the horrible practice of slavery. They also bravely risked personal safety to aid runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad and they faced ridicule and were targeted and were