First, if the ERA passed into law, the legislative balance would tip to favor the federal government as opposed to the state governments. Section Two of the ERA states, "The …show more content…
The ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, also known as the "Reconstruction Amendment", occurred after the Civil War. The purpose of the law was to protect the rights of former slaves, but it also inadvertently armed the Women's Rights Movement with a valid case. Section One of the Fourteenth Amendment, commonly referred to as the Equal Protection Clause, says that states shall not "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws". While it does not specifically mention gender, it clearly establishes a legal basis for defense of equal rights, thus causing the ERA to become