Which amendment grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States?

The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution is the amendment that grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. Ratified in 1868, this amendment was a fundamental change to the legal landscape of citizenship, specifically addressing the status of former slaves following the Civil War.

The key provision known as the Citizenship Clause states that all individuals born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' nationality or immigration status, are citizens. This ensures that citizenship cannot be denied based on race, previous condition of servitude, or other factors. The 14th Amendment also provides for due process and equal protection under the law, further solidifying the rights of citizens.

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 15th Amendment established voting rights regardless of race, and the 16th Amendment allowed the federal government to impose an income tax. While all are significant, they do not pertain to the issue of birthright citizenship, which is exclusively addressed in the 14th Amendment.