Final answer:
The similarities between the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act lie in their shared goal of granting equal protection under the law and preventing discrimination based on race, fulfilling a vital role in protecting African-American rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act both served as pivotal tools in protecting the rights of African Americans following the Civil War. The correct answer to how they are similar is D) Both aimed to grant equal protection under the law and prevent discrimination based on race. These historical measures were instrumental in addressing the injustices faced by African Americans, establishing citizenship, and ensuring legal protections against racial discrimination.
The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868 as part of the Reconstruction Amendments, was crucial in defining citizenship and guaranteeing all citizens—regardless of race—equal protections under the law. It also has been instrumental in the fights against discrimination of various kinds, extending these protections beyond race to include color, ethnicity, sex, gender, and other attributes.
The Civil Rights Act, particularly the landmark act of 1964, was comprehensive legislation aimed at ending discrimination in public places, providing for the integration of schools and other public facilities, and making employment discrimination illegal. Though the Civil Rights Act came almost a century after the 14th Amendment, they share the common goal of ensuring equality and protection for African Americans by focusing on anti-discrimination measures.