In 1868, the 14th Amendment was necessary to apply the federal Bill of Rights to the states primarily to establish civil rights for visible minorities. The amendment was a response to the post-Civil War context, including the need to protect the rights of formerly enslaved individuals and ensure that states could not infringe upon the rights guaranteed by the federal government. The 14th Amendment included the Equal Protection Clause, which aimed to provide equal protection under the law to all citizens, thereby extending protections to those who had faced discrimination and inequality.
While the 14th Amendment played a role in preventing states from continuing practices like slavery and ensuring proper governance, its core intent was to establish and protect civil rights, especially following the civil upheaval and changes in social structures resulting from the Civil War.