Why did the Republicans and Congress feel that the 14th amendment was necessary?
The Republicans and Congress felt that the 14th Amendment was necessary for several reasons:
1. Civil Rights of African Americans: The primary goal of the 14th Amendment was to grant constitutional rights and protections to African Americans who had been enslaved and oppressed during slavery and the subsequent years of Reconstruction. It aimed to ensure the civil rights of newly freed slaves, including the rights to citizenship, equal protection under the law, and due process.
2. Overruling Dred Scott decision: The 14th Amendment was also enacted to overturn the Supreme Court's infamous Dred Scott decision of 1857, which had held that African Americans were not citizens and had no legal rights. By granting citizenship to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States, regardless of race, the amendment sought to nullify the discriminatory principles established in Dred Scott.
3. Countering Black Codes: After the Civil War ended, southern states implemented "Black Codes" to limit the newly acquired rights of freed slaves. These codes aimed to restrict their mobility, maintain a system close to slavery, and deny them voting rights. The 14th Amendment sought to counter these discriminatory laws and safeguard the civil liberties of African Americans.
4. Ensuring Equal Protection: The Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment prohibits states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This clause aimed to prevent racial discrimination by state governments and ensure that all citizens, regardless of race, received equal treatment before the law.
5. Due Process and Privileges and Immunities: The due process and privileges and immunities clauses in the amendment sought to protect fundamental rights of citizens and prevent state governments from infringing upon them. These protections were vital for African Americans, who, even after gaining the right to vote through the 15th Amendment, faced widespread discrimination and violence.
Overall, the Republicans and Congress felt that the 14th Amendment was necessary to address the injustices faced by African Americans and establish a legal framework that granted them full citizenship rights, equal protection, due process, and safeguards against state discrimination.