Final answer:
The 14th Amendment has impacted society by guaranteeing equal protection under the law, extending the Bill of Rights to the states, and safeguarding individual rights and liberties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 14th Amendment has had a significant impact on society today. It guarantees equal protection under the law to all citizens, ensuring that individuals cannot be discriminated against based on factors such as race, gender, or religion. This has been instrumental in various civil rights movements and legal cases, such as Brown v. Board of Education, which helped end racial segregation in schools.
Additionally, the 14th Amendment has extended the Bill of Rights to the states through the 'due process' clause. This means that state governments must also adhere to these constitutional protections, safeguarding individual rights and liberties in areas such as free speech, religion, and privacy.
Without the protections and provisions of the 14th Amendment, life in the United States would be vastly different. Discrimination would be more prevalent, and individual rights and liberties could be easily violated by both state and federal governments. The 14th Amendment has been crucial in ensuring equal treatment and upholding basic freedoms for all citizens.