A Level History - America - Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, fundamentally transformed the legal status of African Americans by granting them citizenship rights. Specifically, it established that all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves, were citizens of the United States and entitled to equal protection under the law. This was a significant milestone during the Reconstruction era, as it sought to rectify the injustices faced by African Americans post-Civil War by ensuring that they would have the same legal rights as white citizens.

The amendment also included clauses that addressed the issue of due process, preventing states from denying any person life, liberty, or property without due process of law. This aimed to protect the rights of African Americans and guarantee them legal recognition and protection against discriminatory state laws.

The other options, while important civil rights issues, are not directly addressed by the 14th Amendment. For example, while the right to bear arms and free speech are crucial elements of American rights found in other amendments, they are not the primary focus of the 14th Amendment, which is expressly about defining and protecting citizenship and equal protection under the law.