Which of the following explains how citizenship was expanded to Black people?(1 point)
Responses
The Founders placed the Diversity of Jurisdiction Clause in the Constitution.
The Founders placed the Diversity of Jurisdiction Clause in the Constitution.
The Supreme Court issued the Dred Scott ruling.
The Supreme Court issued the Dred Scott ruling.
Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment.
Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment.
Congress passed the Naturalization Act of 1790.
The correct response that explains how citizenship was expanded to Black people is: Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment.
To understand why this is the correct answer, let's break down each response:
1. The Founders placed the Diversity of Jurisdiction Clause in the Constitution.
- While the Constitution does include a clause related to diversity of jurisdiction, it does not directly address the expansion of citizenship to Black people. This clause primarily relates to the federal courts' jurisdiction over cases involving citizens of different states.
2. The Supreme Court issued the Dred Scott ruling.
- The Dred Scott ruling, issued in 1857, actually had the opposite effect. It denied citizenship to Black people, stating that they were not considered citizens and therefore did not possess the rights and privileges associated with citizenship.
3. Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment.
- This is the correct response. The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed in 1868, granted citizenship to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States, regardless of race or previous condition of servitude. This amendment effectively expanded citizenship to Black people.
4. Congress passed the Naturalization Act of 1790.
- While the Naturalization Act of 1790 established the first rules for obtaining citizenship in the United States, it did not specifically address the expansion of citizenship to Black people. This act only allowed "free white persons" to become citizens.
Therefore, the correct answer is that Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment, which was the significant legal step that expanded citizenship to Black people in the United States.