What does the 14th Amendment guarantee to individuals?

The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution is significant because it provides crucial guarantees related to citizenship and the protection of individual rights. One of its key provisions is the Equal Protection Clause, which asserts that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This clause has played a pivotal role in various landmark Supreme Court cases aimed at combating discrimination and ensuring that individuals are treated equally regardless of race, gender, or other characteristics. By enshrining the principle of equal protection, the 14th Amendment has laid the groundwork for various civil rights movements and legal precedents, promoting fairness and justice within the legal system.

The other options reference rights that are protected by different amendments: freedom of speech is covered by the First Amendment, the right to vote is addressed by several amendments including the 15th and 19th, and the right to bear arms is primarily associated with the Second Amendment. Each of these rights is important in its own context but does not relate to the specific guarantees of the 14th Amendment.