“THIS DAY IN HISTORY”: JULY 19

   On July 19, 1866, Tennessee becomes the first state to ratify the 14th Amendment.

   It granted  citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States,” which included former slaves recently freed. In addition, it forbids states from denying any person "life, liberty or property, without due process of law" or to "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” By directly mentioning the role of the states, the 14th Amendment greatly expanded the protection of civil rights to all Americans and is cited in more litigation than any other amendment.