Question
The Fourteenth Amendment also said that a state could not pass laws to take away an
American citizen’s “life, liberty, or property” without a trial or other lawful process. Radical
Republicans and freed people hoped this amendment would protect freed people’s rights by
stopping state laws such as the Black Codes.
However, the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment did not mean that freed people’s rights
were always protected. Which of the following conditions made the amendment ineffective at
protecting freed people’s rights?
Many local officials and judges refused to enforce the
Fourteenth Amendment.
Most African American leaders praised the
Fourteenth Amendment.
The amendment gave power to Congress to pass
more laws to enforce the amendment.
All of the former Confederate states ratified, or
approved, the Fourteenth Amendment.
American citizen’s “life, liberty, or property” without a trial or other lawful process. Radical
Republicans and freed people hoped this amendment would protect freed people’s rights by
stopping state laws such as the Black Codes.
However, the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment did not mean that freed people’s rights
were always protected. Which of the following conditions made the amendment ineffective at
protecting freed people’s rights?
Many local officials and judges refused to enforce the
Fourteenth Amendment.
Most African American leaders praised the
Fourteenth Amendment.
The amendment gave power to Congress to pass
more laws to enforce the amendment.
All of the former Confederate states ratified, or
approved, the Fourteenth Amendment.
Ask by Morrison Chandler. in the United States
Jan 24,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
Many local officials and judges did not enforce the Fourteenth Amendment, making it ineffective in protecting freed people’s rights.
Solution
The condition that made the Fourteenth Amendment ineffective at protecting freed people’s rights was:
Many local officials and judges refused to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment.
Explanation:
While the Fourteenth Amendment was designed to guarantee equal protection and due process for all citizens, including newly freed African Americans, its effectiveness was significantly undermined by the lack of enforcement at the local level. Many Southern states, through various means such as the enactment of Jim Crow laws and other discriminatory practices, found ways to circumvent the protections intended by the amendment. Local officials and judges often either consciously ignored the new laws or were sympathetic to discriminatory practices, thereby allowing violations of the amendment’s provisions to continue unchecked.
The other options provided do not directly relate to the ineffectiveness of the amendment:
- Most African American leaders praised the Fourteenth Amendment: This is true and would have supported the amendment’s goals.
- The amendment gave power to Congress to pass more laws to enforce the amendment: This provision was intended to strengthen the amendment’s impact, not weaken it.
- All of the former Confederate states ratified the Fourteenth Amendment: In reality, not all former Confederate states immediately or fully ratified the amendment, and their resistance played a role in the continued challenges to its enforcement.
Correct Answer:
Many local officials and judges refused to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment.
Many local officials and judges refused to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment.
Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor
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Many local officials and judges refused to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment, which severely limited its effectiveness in safeguarding the rights of freed people. In numerous instances, these officials were either hostile to the idea of equality or simply adhered to the prevailing racial prejudices of the time. This lack of local enforcement meant that many injustices continued almost unchecked, allowing discriminatory practices to thrive.
Moreover, while the amendment did empower Congress to pass additional laws, political will varied significantly, and legislation alone was often insufficient in the face of societal resistance. For example, the lack of federal oversight in many local jurisdictions meant that laws could exist on paper but were often ignored or subverted by those in power. Without a consistent commitment to enforcement, the promise of the Fourteenth Amendment remained elusive for many African Americans.
