Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Prep Guide for Exam Success!

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is significant because it establishes the principle of birthright citizenship. Ratified in 1868, the amendment's Citizenship Clause states that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." This clause ensures that nearly all individuals born on U.S. soil automatically gain U.S. citizenship, a critical factor in promoting the inclusion and legal rights of all individuals, regardless of race or ancestry.

The other amendments listed do not pertain to citizenship rights in this manner. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote, and the 16th Amendment established the federal income tax. While these amendments contributed to civil rights and social justice, it is the 14th Amendment that specifically addresses and guarantees automatic citizenship for individuals born in the United States.