The Civil War ended slavery, but what was the status of the newly freed people? Renowned historian Eric Foner explains how the Fourteenth Amendment—written to answer this question—created a foundation for the rights of all citizens. The amendment becomes what Foner considers the most important change outside the Bill of Rights. 

Concepts

reconstruction, the reconstruction era, constitutional amendments, constitutional rights, the bill of rights, the united states civil war, the fourteenth amendment

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

social studies

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Use the video before leading a discussion on the relevancy of the Fourteenth Amendment in twenty-first century America
• Ask scholars to evaluate whether the Fourteenth Amendment was successful at resolving the problems of Reconstruction

Classroom Considerations

• Part of a larger series of videos exploring the Constitution
  

Pros

• The video explains the various sections of the Fourteenth Amendment in a way most learners understand
• Discussion in the video includes connections to today's America

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.6-8.1 RH.6-8.2 RH.6-8.10 RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.9-10.10 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.10