The Fourteenth Amendment also said that a state could not pass laws to take away an American citizen's "life, liberty, or property" without a trial or other lawful process. Radical Republicans and freed people hoped this amendment would protect freed people's rights by stopping state laws such as the Black Codes. However, the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment did not mean that freed people's rights were always protected. Which of the following conditions made the amendment ineffective at protecting freed people's rights? Many local officials and judges refused to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment. Most African American leaders praised the Fourteenth Amendment. The amendment gave power to Congress to pass more laws to enforce the amendment. All of the former Confederate states ratified, or approved, the Fourteenth Amendment.

Many local officials and judges refused to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment, which severely limited its effectiveness in safeguarding the rights of freed people. In numerous instances, these officials were either hostile to the idea of equality or simply adhered to the prevailing racial prejudices of the time. This lack of local enforcement meant that many injustices continued almost unchecked, allowing discriminatory practices to thrive. Moreover, while the amendment did empower Congress to pass additional laws, political will varied significantly, and legislation alone was often insufficient in the face of societal resistance. For example, the lack of federal oversight in many local jurisdictions meant that laws could exist on paper but were often ignored or subverted by those in power. Without a consistent commitment to enforcement, the promise of the Fourteenth Amendment remained elusive for many African Americans.