How have the protections of the Fourteenth Amendment been extended beyond the original group whose situation the amendment was intended to remedy?

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, former slaves—and guaranteed all citizens equal protection of the laws.  former Confederate states as they were reintroduced into the Union. They required them to ratify the 13th and 14th Amendments as a condition

Explanation:

kind of thinking it would be c hope this out

the correct answer is:

b) a rich merchant.