The purpose of the 14th Amendment ratified in 1868, was to define citizenship and protect civil rights.

It aimed to ensure that all individuals born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people, were recognized as citizens with equal protection under the law. The amendment also sought to prevent states from denying any person due process or equal protection, thereby addressing issues of discrimination and inequality. This landmark amendment laid the foundation for many civil rights advancements and legal challenges in subsequent years, shaping American constitutional law significantly.