Upon ratification, the fourteenth amendment expanded civil rights protection a. by punishing former confederates harshly. b. by ending slavery throughout the united states. c. allowing southern states to rejoin the union. d. by offering equality under the law to all citizens.

D. by offering equality under the law to all citizens.

Explanation:

The 14th Amendment is a statute that grants American citizenship to people born or naturalized in the U.S., gives them the right to due process and equal protection under the laws, and prohibits states from abridging “the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” In theory, its ratification expanded civil rights protection by offering equality under the law to all citizens. In reality, however, not all citizens were treated fairly and equal under the law.

i can confirm that the answer is D

Explanation:

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