Celebrate 29July

Today in 1868 Secretary of State William H. Seward officially certified that the 14th Amendment was a part of the Constitution. The 14th is the equal protection amendment, guaranteeing the rights to life, liberty, and property to all citizens. It was passed as a response to the disenfranchisement of blacks in the South following the Civil War, and also to guarantee citizenship to former slaves. It's been through a lot and has been argued over bitterly, but because of this amendment no state can deny to certain of its citizens the rights enjoyed by others. That's cause for celebration.