What is the main purpose of the 14th Amendment?

The main purpose of the 14th Amendment is to ensure the right to equal protection under the law for all individuals within the jurisdiction of the United States. Ratified in 1868, this amendment was a significant milestone in American constitutional law, particularly in the context of civil rights following the Civil War. It was designed to safeguard the rights of newly freed slaves and to provide a constitutional guarantee that all citizens would receive equal treatment and protection from the law, regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

The equal protection clause has been a foundation for various civil rights advancements, influencing key Supreme Court decisions that challenged discrimination and inequality. By focusing on equal protection, the 14th Amendment laid the groundwork for subsequent legislation and movements aimed at combating injustices in the legal system, earning it a central role in discussions about civil liberties.

The other options pertain to different rights protected under various amendments: the right to free speech and assembly is primarily addressed in the First Amendment; protection against unreasonable search and seizure is found in the Fourth Amendment; and the right to bear arms is associated with the Second Amendment. Each of these addresses different aspects of individual rights and protections within the U.S. Constitution but does not encapsulate the overarching intent of the