What does the 14th Amendment guarantee?

The 14th Amendment is a significant component of the United States Constitution that primarily addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. Ratified in 1868, it was designed to ensure that all individuals, particularly former slaves, would receive equal treatment and protection from discrimination by law.

The Equal Protection Clause, which is part of the 14th Amendment, mandates that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction "the equal protection of the laws." This has been a crucial foundation for various civil rights movements and court rulings that strive to uphold equality, asserting that individuals in similar conditions should be treated equally by the law, regardless of race, gender, or other characteristics.

In contrast, the other options address different rights that are protected under other amendments. The right to vote is primarily guaranteed through the 15th Amendment and subsequent laws, while freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment. The right to bear arms is established in the Second Amendment. Thus, the 14th Amendment is distinctively associated with the principle of equal protection.