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The amendment was mainly designed to secure the rights and protections for newly freed slaves following the American Civil War, but its broad language has been applied to protect the rights of all individuals. It consists of five sections, with the first section defining citizenship and providing equal protection to all citizens. The second section deals with apportionment of representatives in Congress. The third section prohibits certain individuals from holding office if they have engaged in rebellion against the United States. The fourth section addresses the validity of public debt, while the fifth section grants Congress the power to enforce the amendment. The Fourteenth Amendment has been the foundation for numerous landmark Supreme Court cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, which led to the desegregation of schools, and Roe v. Wade, which established the right to abortion. Overall, the amendment has played a crucial role in shaping the landscape of civil rights and protections in the United States.