Chapter 4.3Chapter 4.3

Extending the Bill of RightsExtending the Bill of Rights

Protecting All AmericansProtecting All Americans

At first, the Bill of Rights applied only At first, the Bill of Rights applied only to adult white males. It also applied to adult white males. It also applied only to the national gov’t, not to only to the national gov’t, not to state or local gov’ts. Later state or local gov’ts. Later amendments and court rulings made amendments and court rulings made the Bill of Rights apply to all people the Bill of Rights apply to all people and all levels of gov’t.and all levels of gov’t.

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The Civil War amendments – the 13The Civil War amendments – the 13thth, , 1414thth and 15 and 15thth – extended civil liberties – extended civil liberties to African Americans.to African Americans.

The 13The 13thth Amendment outlawed Amendment outlawed slavery, freeing thousands of African slavery, freeing thousands of African AmericansAmericans

continuedcontinuedAfter the Civil War, many Southern After the Civil War, many Southern states passed “black codes” that states passed “black codes” that limited the rights of African limited the rights of African Americans. The 14Americans. The 14thth Amendment Amendment remedied this situation by defining remedied this situation by defining citizens as anyone born or citizens as anyone born or naturalized in the U.S., which naturalized in the U.S., which included African Americans. It included African Americans. It required all states to grant citizens required all states to grant citizens equal protection of the laws.equal protection of the laws.

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The 14The 14thth Amendment also Amendment also nationalized the Bill of Rights by nationalized the Bill of Rights by forbidding state gov’ts from forbidding state gov’ts from interfering with the rights of citizens. interfering with the rights of citizens. The Supreme Court upheld this The Supreme Court upheld this interpretation of the amendment in interpretation of the amendment in Gitlow v. New YorkGitlow v. New York..

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The 15The 15thth Amendment says that no Amendment says that no state may take away a person’s state may take away a person’s voting rights on the basis of race, voting rights on the basis of race, color or previous enslavement. It color or previous enslavement. It was intended to guarantee was intended to guarantee suffragesuffrage – the right to vote – to African – the right to vote – to African Americans. It applied only to men.Americans. It applied only to men.

continuedcontinuedAccording to the Constitution, state According to the Constitution, state legislatures were to choose senators. The legislatures were to choose senators. The 1717thth Amendment changed this to allow Amendment changed this to allow voters to elect senators directly.voters to elect senators directly.

The Constitution did not grant or deny The Constitution did not grant or deny women the right to vote. As a result, women the right to vote. As a result, states made their own decisions. The 19states made their own decisions. The 19thth Amendment solved this problem by Amendment solved this problem by establishing women’s right to vote in all establishing women’s right to vote in all elections.elections.

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Because Washington, D.C., is a Because Washington, D.C., is a district, not a state, its citizens could district, not a state, its citizens could not vote in national elections. The not vote in national elections. The 2323rdrd Amendment established their Amendment established their right to vote.right to vote.

continuedcontinuedSeveral Southern states required people to Several Southern states required people to pay pay poll taxespoll taxes to vote. Because many to vote. Because many African Americans and poor whites could African Americans and poor whites could not afford to pay, they could not vote. The not afford to pay, they could not vote. The 2424thth Amendment outlawed poll taxes. Amendment outlawed poll taxes.

The 26The 26thth Amendment guaranteed the right Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to citizens 18 and older. Before to vote to citizens 18 and older. Before this amendment, most states set the this amendment, most states set the minimum voting age at 21.minimum voting age at 21.