Fourteenth Amendment

One of the so-called "Civil War Amendments" to theConstitution in that it was ratified after the Civil War; protects all personsfrom state laws that attempt to deprive them of "life, liberty or property,without due process of law," or that attempt to deny them equal protection ofthe laws. The amendment has been used to extend the protection of almost all ofthe provisions of the Bill of Rights to citizens of every state.See Civil War Index