Final Answer:
The Fourteenth Amendment, is correct because it granted all persons the same property rights as white citizens and protected the right to enter into and enforce contracts, ensuring equal protection under the law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is B. The Fourteenth Amendment. This amendment, ratified in 1868, granted all persons the same property rights as white citizens, as well as the right to enter into and enforce contracts.
The Fourteenth Amendment played a pivotal role in addressing the civil rights of African Americans and ensuring equal protection under the law.
The Fourteenth Amendment consists of several sections, with Section 1 being particularly relevant to this question.
Section 1 states that "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
This language was crucial in extending property rights and contractual freedoms to all citizens, regardless of race.
Moreover, the Fourteenth Amendment laid the foundation for significant civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and subsequent acts that aimed to eliminate discrimination and promote equality.
By providing a constitutional basis for equal protection, the Fourteenth Amendment marked a turning point in American legal history, setting the stage for further advancements in the fight against racial inequality.