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The reason that the 14th Amendment was written was due to the Civil War and the emancipation of blacks from slavery. It's sole purpose was to make sure that blacks that were once slaves would be considered as citizens and treated as such regardless of what State they lived in. This was done by taking away each States ability to interfere with citizens Rights. Or as the 14th puts it "privileges or immunities".
But what would have happened if they had phrased it differently? For instance what if instead it had said something along the lines of "All people of color will be considered as full citizens with all the Rights and Privileges that all other Humans have".
Would would the US look like now?
Well, for one the Rights in the BoR's would no longer be a restriction on State governments. They would still be solely restrictions from the Federal Government. For instance, the separation of church and state clause in the 1st Amendment would only be a restriction against Congress. Meaning that States would still be able to have State Sponsored Religions. Another example that could be used is that the 2nd Amendment would be able to be restricted far more in states like California while other states might not have ANY restrictions what so ever.
The question that I am going to put forth is thus: What other ways do you think that America would be different if the 14th Amendment had been phrased differently as outlined in this post?
But what would have happened if they had phrased it differently? For instance what if instead it had said something along the lines of "All people of color will be considered as full citizens with all the Rights and Privileges that all other Humans have".
Would would the US look like now?
Well, for one the Rights in the BoR's would no longer be a restriction on State governments. They would still be solely restrictions from the Federal Government. For instance, the separation of church and state clause in the 1st Amendment would only be a restriction against Congress. Meaning that States would still be able to have State Sponsored Religions. Another example that could be used is that the 2nd Amendment would be able to be restricted far more in states like California while other states might not have ANY restrictions what so ever.
The question that I am going to put forth is thus: What other ways do you think that America would be different if the 14th Amendment had been phrased differently as outlined in this post?