Question

Which statement explains why the Fourteenth Amendment was included in the U.S. Constitution?

a) To establish a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government.
b) To grant voting rights to women.
c) To guarantee equal protection under the law for all citizens.
d) To limit the powers of the federal government.

Answer 1

The Fourteenth Amendment was included in the U.S. Constitution to ensure equal protection under the law for all citizens, particularly following the Civil War to protect the rights of freed slaves.

Step-by-step explanation:

Reason for the Inclusion of the Fourteenth Amendment

The Fourteenth Amendment was included in the U.S. Constitution to guarantee equal protection under the law for all citizens. Developed during the Reconstruction era, it aimed to protect the rights of newly freed slaves by ensuring they were recognized as citizens with equal protection under both state and federal laws. This amendment addressed citizenship, defining that anyone "born or naturalized in the United States" is a U.S. citizen. It revoked the Dred Scott decision, thereby ensuring that all persons born or naturalized in the nation were citizens, irrespective of race. The amendment also included the equal protection clause, which barred states from passing laws that discriminated against certain groups of people, offering protection from certain state powers. Recognized as pivotal in expanding civil rights, the Fourteenth Amendment was crucial for civil liberties as it allowed the Supreme Court to apply the Bill of Rights to the states.

In summary, the correct answer to the question is: (c) To guarantee equal protection under the law for all citizens.