What are civil rights?

Civil rights are fundamentally about the protections and guarantees that ensure individuals are treated equally under the law. This concept is rooted in the belief that all people should have the same rights and protections, regardless of race, gender, religion, national origin, or other characteristics. The essence of civil rights is to prevent discrimination and to provide every citizen with the assurance that they will not face unequal treatment in various aspects of life, including employment, education, and voting.

This principle is embodied in various laws and amendments, such as the Civil Rights Act and the Fourteenth Amendment, which emphasize equality and prohibit unequal treatment based on certain characteristics. As such, choosing the answer that specifies protections given to all citizens to guarantee equal treatment captures the fundamental purpose of civil rights legislation and the moral and legal frameworks established to ensure fairness and justice in society.