The 14th amendment is designed to constitutionalize the rights of the civil rights act of 1866. The 14th Amendment wrote the Declaration of Independence's promise of freedom and equality into the Constitution.Simply put, the 14th Amendment is an addition to the United States Constitution that was ratified in 1868 in the aftermath of the American Civil War. The Fourteenth Amendment is an amendment to the United States Constitution that was adopted in 1868. This interactive guide to the US Constitution provides the original text and an explanation of the meaning of each article and amendment. U.S. Constitution Amendments on Federal Voting Rights. No state shall make or enforce any law, which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States. The primary source documents on this page highlight pivotal moments in the course of American history or government. The Fifth Amendment says to the federal government that no one shall be "deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.