14th Amendment

The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on July 9, 1868, and granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves. It also prohibits states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws and due process of law. The amendment was passed in the aftermath of the Civil War and has been used to protect the civil rights of individuals and ensure equal treatment under the law.

 The 14th Amendment has played a crucial role in shaping American society and has been used to advance civil rights and liberties for all individuals. It has been cited in numerous landmark Supreme Court cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, which ended racial segregation in public schools.

In addition to guaranteeing equal protection and due process, the 14th Amendment also addresses representation in Congress, stating that if a state denies the right to vote to any male citizens over the age of 21, its representation in Congress will be reduced. This provision has been instrumental in expanding voting rights and ensuring fair representation for all citizens.

Overall, the 14th Amendment is a cornerstone of American civil rights law and has been instrumental in advancing equality and justice for all individuals, regardless of race, gender, or background.

https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/14th-amendment
In 1868: 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. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. There’s a key point to bear in mind here. United States, before the 14th amendment, was used in a plural sense to refer to the states collectively. However in this amendment it says “the jurisdiction thereof”, not “their jurisdiction thereof”, a singular jurisdiction/entity. This is further backed by
the mentioning of the states separately

On top of that, this is the first time we’ve seen the creation of a U.S. Citizenship as a pertains to a singular entity in which there is jurisdiction. In short, since the Negros were being invaded by the individual states, the Federal Governments solution was to create a Citizen of the United States political status to grant largely to the negros, where primary jurisdiction over them is Congress in Washington D.C., and NOT the several states.

Note the due process clause of the 14th amendment, how it points directly against the states, and that it only applies to citizens of the United States. Notice also that this is a small “s” state, which is used in the definition of national in Title 8 of the U.S.C., Section 1101, Definition 21.