Which amendment provides due process protections against state actions?

The 14th Amendment is the correct answer because it specifically includes the Due Process Clause, which states that no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. This amendment was ratified in 1868 and extended the protection of due process to actions taken by state governments, thereby ensuring that individuals are afforded fair legal procedures and protections at the state level, similar to those provided at the federal level under the 5th Amendment.

The significance of the 14th Amendment lies in its role in various landmark Supreme Court cases that shaped the interpretation of due process and civil rights in America. By establishing the principle of incorporation, it allows for certain protections in the Bill of Rights to apply to state governments, thereby broadening civil liberties for individuals across the country.

The other amendments listed do not address state actions in the context of due process. The 1st Amendment primarily deals with freedom of speech, religion, and assembly; the 3rd Amendment concerns the quartering of soldiers; and the 5th Amendment provides protections against self-incrimination and double jeopardy, focused on federal actions rather than explicitly applying to the states.