The Fourteenth Amendment Conference

The Fourteenth Amendment

Lectures from the October 2025 Abbeville Institute Conference in Columbus, GA

The 14th Amendment is arguably the most important political development of the post-bellum United States. Historians, legal scholars, lawyers, and judges have debated its meaning and intent. Many of our current political debates center on the Amendment, from immigration to the powers of the central government. In many respects, the 14th Amendment has become the Constitution. Some judges and scholars classify themselves as "14th Amendment originalists" today.

But are modern interpretations of the Amendment correct? We'll review the history of the Amendment, its application, meaning, and intent, and how it impacts America today.