Why did the Supreme Court expand the incorporation of the Bill of Rights? A. to ensure they always had the last word
B. to ensure equal treatment for all citizens
C. to ensure all naturalized people could be citizens
D. to ensure all legal cases came before the Court
The correct answer is B. to ensure equal treatment for all citizens.
The Supreme Court expanded the incorporation of the Bill of Rights primarily to protect individual rights against state infringement, thereby ensuring that all citizens, regardless of where they live, are treated equally under the law. Through the doctrine of incorporation, many rights in the Bill of Rights were applied to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. This expanded protection helps prevent states from violating fundamental liberties that are essential for ensuring equal treatment.