Final answer:
The Fourteenth Amendment is crucial for establishing birthright citizenship and equal protection under the law, reversing the Dred Scott decision and shaping modern civil rights. The correct answer is option 4.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of the Fourteenth Amendment is multifaceted, addressing issues of citizenship, legal protection, and civil liberties following the Civil War. Its key components include the establishment of birthright citizenship, the application of due process to the states via the implementation of the Equal Protection Clause, and the expansion of civil rights. The amendment granted citizenship for all persons born in the United States and guarantees equal protection of the laws for all citizens, by stating, "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."
This provision is significant for overturning the Dred Scott decision and ensuring that state governments do not deny equal protection to individuals due to their group affiliations, such as race. The amendment, therefore, was instrumental in shaping the modern understanding of citizenship and the protection of individual rights against discrimination.