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The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, ensures equal protection under the law for all, regardless of race or parentage. The citizenship clause within the amendment, inspired by the Dred Scott decision, states that anyone born or naturalized in the U.S. is a citizen. This amendment combats past attempts by states, particularly in the South, to restrict birthright citizenship based on a parent's status, which has been deemed unconstitutional. It promotes universal birthright citizenship, reinforcing the principle of equal legal protection.