Final answer:
The Supreme Court expanded the incorporation of the Bill of Rights to ensure equal treatment for all citizens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Supreme Court expanded the incorporation of the Bill of Rights to ensure equal treatment for all citizens.
By selectively incorporating various provisions of the Bill of Rights into state laws and constitutions, the Supreme Court extended the protections of fundamental liberties to the states. This process began in 1897, when the Court found that certain state laws violated principles of liberty and justice that are fundamental to the inalienable rights of a citizen. The Court's decisions ensured that these rights were upheld by the states, even if their state constitutions and laws did not explicitly protect them.