The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

Summary

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, ratified between 1865 and 1870, fundamentally transformed the U.S. Constitution following the Civil War. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery throughout the United States. The 14th Amendment established birthright citizenship, guaranteed equal protection under the law, and required due process at the state level. The 15th Amendment prohibited denying voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.