The Reconstruction Amendments, namely, the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, have certainly marked the second funding of the US. The current values instilled in the country’s political, social, and cultural code, such as democracy and equality, would not have been engrained if not for the aforementioned enactments after the Civil War. They created an environment in which slavery was fully abolished, individuals who were enslaved were able to acquire freedom, and the rights to vote and participate in political decisions were granted. Prior to said events, the funding of the US was based on the exploitation of native populations and acquiring slave labor from overseas. However, the Reconstruction Amendments facilitated a second funding that was based on liberty, freedom, and opportunities for all people. As a result, the United States became the country it is now, namely, diverse and inclusive regardless of skin color and similar characteristics.
Birthright citizenship is a concept that was achieved due to the Reconstruction Amendments. It implies that one acquires the legal status of a citizen by being born in a particular country rather than having to prove said rights through specific actions. Prior to the aforementioned amendments, people of color could acquire citizenship, freedom, and certain rights solely by purchasing land. However, the transition generated opportunities for citizenship to be a birthright rather than a status requiring additional efforts in order for it to be achieved. It is important as it recognizes that the value of a human being is intrinsic and should not be earned. Furthermore, it is critical in terms of creating equality since a society in which one demographic is granted birthright and the other one is not is, by definition, exploitative and unfair.