What is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment?

The correct answer highlights a fundamental principle established by the 14th Amendment, which is the guarantee of equal protection of the laws to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. This section of the Amendment is crucial because it ensures that individuals are treated equally under the law, prohibiting discrimination by state governments and requiring that individuals in similar situations be treated alike. This principle has been a cornerstone for numerous civil rights cases in the history of the United States, shaping the legal landscape surrounding issues of equality and civil liberties.

The other choices reflect important rights and principles but do not specifically stem from the 14th Amendment. Equal pay for equal work is a principle associated with labor rights and gender equality, the right to bear arms pertains to the Second Amendment, and freedom of speech and assembly is protected by the First Amendment. Each of these rights serves an important role in American law and society, but they are distinct from the equal protection clause that the 14th Amendment specifically guarantees.