The passage below is an excerpt from the Fourteenth Amendment. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property
without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Which statement explains why this amendment was adopted?

A) to extend voting rights to emancipated slaves

B) to protect the civil rights of African Americans

C) to guarantee states' rights to make their own laws

D) to prevent states from seeding from the Union

thanks!!