While the 13^th Amendment ended slavery, it did not guarantee citizenship for newly freed African Americans because of the precedent set by Dred Scott v. Sanford.

The 14^th Amendment, ratified on July 28, 1868, was intended to cement the status of African Americans as full citizens of the United States, but its vague language left it vulnerable to segregationist lawmakers who undermined its original purpose over the course of the next century.   

Click to read The 14^th Amendment, then check your comprehension with the Match It activity below.