Under the 14th Amendment, African Americans could now legally claim the same constitutional rights afforded to all American citizens. The Fourteenth Amendment (1868) recognized Black people as citizens and outlined basic rights.The 14th Amendment wrote the Declaration of Independence's promise of freedom and equality into the Constitution. Showing 45 Guides ; Nov 19, 2024 20345. 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents in American History ; Nov 19, 2024 15744. The Citizenship Clause broadly defines citizenship, superseding the Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott v. South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida to formerly enslaved people. The Reconstruction Amendments (1865-1870). African Americans pushed for citizenship well before the end of slavery in the nation. Following the end of the Civil War, two constitutional provisions were ratified to protect the right of African Americans to vote.