Yep, - that has been the supposition of 'state rights' advocates, which is unsupported by facts.
The 14th assured control of the southern courts and constitutions through the oversight given the Feds in the 14th.
This 'oversite' insures that individuals rights are not violated. States retain their powers to fight federal edicts, but refuse to use them through political failures..
The 14th is not at fault.
This includes, shall we say, asset management. Big time northern investment in rebuilding the South, especially the railroads.
Easy to 'say', but the proof is not forthcoming. In any case, reconsruction is over.
It's that simple: and it's that invidious.
No, the states rights movement is not over, - and what's insidious about it is the ~insistence~ that states can ignore our civil rights. Why is this a goal?
Lincoln's attitude towards it likely would have been one of suspicion. It was used to assure Federal control over the southern governments.
Not so, and the more the big lie is chanted about fed control thru the 14th, the less credibility the movement gains.
The story of Reconstruction is not pretty, on all sides. Sadly, the Republican leadership didn't include the spirit of Lincoln's 2nd inaugural in the 14th amendment. Again, all kinds of good in it. Too bad they threw out the baby with the bathwater.
Our baby of individual rights is being thrown out by the advocates of states rights.. Makes no sense to me.