What is the primary function of the Fourteenth Amendment?

The primary function of the Fourteenth Amendment is to prohibit the deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. This amendment, ratified in 1868, plays a crucial role in ensuring that states uphold the same rights that the federal government must respect, particularly in the realm of legal protections for individuals.

The due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment mandates that all individuals are entitled to fair legal proceedings before being deprived of their rights. This was particularly significant in the post-Civil War era, as it aimed to protect the rights of newly freed slaves and ensure that they were not subjected to arbitrary state laws that could infringe upon their freedoms.

While other amendments address issues such as the right to assemble, protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and freedom of speech, they do so under different contexts and protections. The Fourteenth Amendment explicitly focuses on ensuring that all individuals receive fair treatment through the legal system, making option C the most accurate choice regarding the primary function of the amendment.