Final answer:
The most basic right of citizenship, which includes equal access and protection under the law, is a true statement and is enshrined in the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Is the most basic right of citizenship equal access and protection under the law? The answer is A. True. The concept of citizenship in the United States is deeply entrenched in the Fourteenth Amendment, which states that "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside". Additionally, the same amendment mandates that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This principle affirms that all citizens, and in certain contexts non-citizens, have the right to equal access and protection under both state and federal laws. In fact, the Fourteenth Amendment explicitly addresses this through its Equal Protection Clause, reflecting the nation's commitment to civil rights following the abolition of slavery as established by the Dred Scott decision.