ns born or naturalized in the United States citizens of the United States, and of the state in which they reside" (Curtis 58). The Radical Republicans presented the Fourteenth Amendment to the house on May 10, 1866 (Curtis 58). The amendment passed in both the Senate and the House on June 8 and 13th 1866 (Curtis 58). The final amendment had a total of five sections that apply to separate issues (Nowak and Rotunda 611). The Radical Republicans were determined to require southern states to ratify the amendment in order to reenter the Union, and have a representative in Congress (Palmer 331). Many northern and southern democrats opposed the amendment (Palmer 331).
             As the amendment came before the states for ratification all the southern states, except Tennessee, refused to sign (Palmer 331). The Radical Republicans were now in danger of losing their fight to have the amendment ratified (Palmer 331). In March 1867, after having gained control of most of Congress, they took drastic steps to prevent the failure of their fight fo
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