The Fourteenth Amendment was designed to protect the rights of which group?

The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, was specifically designed to protect the rights of former slaves following the Civil War. Its primary focus was to ensure that all individuals born or naturalized in the United States are granted citizenship and that no state shall make or enforce any law that abridges the privileges or immunities of citizens, denies any person equal protection under the laws, or deprives any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

This amendment emerged from the need to secure the rights of newly freed African Americans, addressing issues such as citizenship and legal equality. While the protections offered by the Fourteenth Amendment ultimately extend to all citizens, its original intent and historical context were centered around the experiences and rights of former slaves, making this group the correct focus of the amendment. The other choices, although they may experience protections under the broader application of the Fourteenth Amendment, do not reflect its specific historical purpose.