Why were people against the amendment 14?

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, faced significant opposition and criticism from various groups, primarily due to its provisions regarding citizenship, civil rights, and the reconstruction of the South after the Civil War. Here are some key reasons for this opposition:

Coercion in Ratification

Many Southern states were forced to ratify the 14th Amendment as a condition for their re-entry into the Union. This coercion led some, including neo-Confederate groups, to argue that the ratification process was illegitimate and that the Amendment was imposed upon them unfairly23.

Opposition to Citizenship for African Americans

The Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves. White supremacists and those who opposed racial equality vehemently resisted this provision, as it challenged the existing social and racial hierarchies in the South. Southern states, led by white men who had previously passed Black Codes, refused to ratify the Amendment because it defined African Americans as equal citizens34.

Violence and Resistance

The period following the Civil War saw significant racial violence, such as the Memphis Massacre, as white civilians and police attacked Black communities. This violence was part of a broader resistance to the rights and freedoms granted to African Americans by the 14th Amendment3.

Legal and Ideological Challenges

Extremist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist organizations, have consistently challenged the legitimacy of the 14th Amendment. They argue that the Amendment was never legally ratified and that it created a second class of citizens, often referred to as "Fourteenth Amendment citizens," who supposedly have only limited statutory rights rather than inalienable rights2.

Judicial Interpretations

The Supreme Court's early interpretations of the 14th Amendment, such as in United States v. Cruikshank and Plessy v. Ferguson, limited its protections for African Americans. These rulings allowed for the continuation of segregation and Jim Crow laws, further undermining the Amendment's intended impact4.

Corporate Interests

Over time, the Supreme Court also began to interpret the 14th Amendment in ways that protected corporate interests rather than the civil rights of African Americans. This shift, evident in cases like Munn v. Illinois and others, further eroded the Amendment's original purpose of protecting the rights of former slaves4.

These factors highlight the deep-seated opposition to the 14th Amendment, which was rooted in racial, social, and economic tensions of the post-Civil War era.