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On Demand

The Civil War Amendments and the Legal Architecture of Freedom


Credit Available - See Credits tab below.

Categories:
Constitutional
Faculty:
Robert J. McWhirter
Program Credits:
1-1.2
Credit Type:
General
Program Type:
On Demand


Description

The Civil War Amendments—Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth—represent a profound transformation of the U.S. Constitution, redefining the relationship between the individual, the state, and the federal government. This course explores how these amendments sought to repair the original Constitution’s failure to address slavery and racial inequality. Tracing the historical arc from America’s founding through the Civil War and Reconstruction, the program examines the philosophical and legal clash between republicanism and aristocracy, the enduring myth of “states’ rights,” and the continuing relevance of these amendments in today’s constitutional debates. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how law has been used both to justify and dismantle systems of racial oppression—and how the Civil War Amendments remain central to the pursuit of liberty and equality for all.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe the legal and historical failures of the original U.S. Constitution regarding slavery and racial equality.
  2. Explain the transformative role of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments in redefining citizenship, equal protection, and federal enforcement powers.
  3. Analyze how the ideology of “states’ rights” was historically used to uphold slavery and later resist civil rights, and how that conflicts with the text and purpose of the Reconstruction Amendments.
  4. Identify key constitutional debates and Supreme Court decisions that have shaped the implementation and limitations of the Civil War Amendments.
  5. Assess the modern implications of the Reconstruction Amendments on voting rights, civil liberties, and equal protection jurisprudence.

Credits


Alabama

AL General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 12/30/2025
Status: Approved


Alaska

AK General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2028
Status: Approved

CLE programs which take place outside of Alaska or are webcast from outside of Alaska are not required to be accredited by the Alaska Bar Association.  Alaska Bar members may claim credit for attendance at CLE programs offered in or from other jurisdictions if the program has been accredited by another MCLE jurisdiction.  


Arizona

AZ General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2028
Status: Approved

The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement.  This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour(s) toward your annual CLE requirement for the State Bar of Arizona, including 0 hour(s) of professional responsibility.


Arkansas

AR General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 06/30/2026
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 3333


California

CA General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration:
Status: Pending, Submitted for Accreditation
Provider Number: 20536


Colorado

CO General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 12/31/2027
Status: Approved
Provider Number: N/A


Connecticut

CT General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2028
Status: Approved


Delaware

DE General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2026
Status: Approved


Florida

FL General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 2.0
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 01/31/2027
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 1052222


Georgia

GA General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 12/31/2025
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 8722


Hawaii

HI General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration:
Status: Pending, Submitted for Accreditation


Idaho

ID General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration:
Status: Pending, Submitted for Accreditation


Illinois

IL General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/22/2027
Status: Approved
Provider Number: SPR0001


Indiana

IN General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2026
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 111648


Iowa

IA General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2026
Status: Approved


Kansas

KS General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2026
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 7925


Kentucky

KY General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration:
Status: Pending, Submitted for Accreditation
Provider Number: 6888


Louisiana

LA General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/22/2026
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 4354


Maine

ME General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/22/2027
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 2593


Maryland

MD General

Maryland attorneys do not have MCLE requirements.


Massachusetts

MA General

Massachusetts attorneys do not have MCLE requirements.


Michigan

MI General

Michigan attorneys do not have MCLE requirements.


Minnesota

MN General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2027
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 0012487


Mississippi

MS General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration:
Status: Pending, Submitted for Accreditation


Missouri

MO General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.8
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2028
Status: Approved
Provider Number: N/A


Montana

MT General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2028
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 5420


Nebraska

NE General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2027
Status: Approved


Nevada

NV General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 12/31/2028
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 55391


New Hampshire

NH General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2028
Status: Approved

NHMCLE does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the NH Minimum CLE requirement. The provider believes this course meets the requirements of NH Supreme Court Rule 53 and may quality for 60 minutes toward the annual NHMCLE requirement. New Hampshire attendees must self-determine whether a program is eligible for credit, and self-report their attendance.


New Jersey

NJ General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.8
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 06/11/2026
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 3332


New Mexico

NM General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2028
Status: Pending, Submitted for Accreditation


New York

NY General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2028
Status: Approved


North Carolina

NC General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Expiration: On Demand
Expires: 02/28/2026
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 9370


North Dakota

ND General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2028
Status: Approved


Ohio

OH General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 12/31/2025
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 19607


Oklahoma

OK General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 2
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2026
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 4528


Oregon

OR General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2027
Status: Approved


Pennsylvania

PA General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2027
Status: Approved
Provider Number: N/A


Rhode Island

RI General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Expires: 06/30/2026
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 00959


South Carolina

SC General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 12/31/2025
Status: Approved
Provider Number: SPROU


South Dakota

SD General

South Dakota attorneys do not have MCLE requirements.


Tennessee

TN General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2026
Status: Approved


Texas

TX General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 06/30/2026
Status: Approved
Provider Number: A17672


Utah

UT General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 12/31/2025
Status: Approved


Vermont

VT General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration:
Status: Pending, Submitted for Accreditation


Virginia

VA General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration:
Status: Pending, Submitted for Accreditation


Washington

WA Law & Legal Procedure

Credit Type: Law & Legal Procedure
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/22/2030
Status: Approved
Provider Number: 9903940


West Virginia

WV General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.8
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration:
Status: Approved


Wisconsin

WI General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2026
Status: Approved


Wyoming

WY General

Credit Type: General
Credit Amount: 1.5
Course Type: On Demand
Course Expiration: 07/23/2026
Status: Approved



Materials

Faculty

Robert J. McWhirter's Profile

Robert J. McWhirter Related Seminars and Products

Certified Specialist in Criminal Law

Law Offices of Robert J. McWhirter


Robert J. McWhirter is a nationally recognized constitutional scholar, criminal defense attorney, and award-winning author. A Certified Specialist in Criminal Law by the State Bar of Arizona, he has tried over 100 cases across federal, state, and municipal courts. He has served on the ABA Criminal Justice Standards Committee and has extensive international justice reform experience in Latin America. A frequent legal commentator in national media, Mr. McWhirter is known for his accessible yet deeply researched insights on constitutional law, civil rights, and the continuing evolution of American legal principles.