Today in History: July 9, 14th Amendment ratified

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on July 9, 1868, granting citizenship and equal protection under the laws to anyone born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people. Other historical events on this date include President Zachary Taylor's death in 1850, William Jennings Bryan's 'Cross of Gold' speech in 1896, and the deadliest U.S. rail disaster in 1918.