Established equal civil rights and liberties to former slaves. Its major provision: “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.” Senator Jacob Howard of Michigan introduced the amendment that was authored by Congressman John Bingham of Ohio. They both intended that the amendment would nationalize the Federal Bill of Rights by making it binding upon the states. Senator Jacobs on this note, included the statement: “the personal rights guaranteed and secured by the first eight amendments.” At the time the Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment did not extend the Bill of Rights to states and thus did not protect the rights of black citizens.
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