This shook up the idea that white people were inherently superior and shook things up from how African Americans were previously treated unfairly. It also restricted the ability of Southern states to enforce discriminatory laws against African Americans, such as the infamous Black Codes. The 14th Amendment basically changed the legal landscape of the South, posing a threat to the traditional power they held and social structure that many southerners hoped to keep on going. Furthermore, by guaranteeing equal protection under the law, the 14th Amendment challenged the established beliefs in racial superiority that supported Southern society. Therefore, it is fair to argue that the 14th Amendment likely drew out the strongest hostility and bitter indignation among southerners, as it directly opposed and weakened their deeply held beliefs and interests. You would be angry too if you lost all power like the southerners did. In brief summary, the 14th Amendment made the Southerners most