The Fourteenth Amendment

The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, is a key part of the U.S. Constitution that guarantees citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. It was originally aimed at ensuring that newly freed slaves after the Civil War were treated as full citizens with equal rights. The amendment prohibits states from denying any person "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law," and from denying anyone equal protection. This means that everyone, regardless of background, should receive the same legal treatment and protections in society.