Which amendment applies rights to the states as per the US Constitution?

The amendment that applies rights to the states as per the US Constitution is the 14th Amendment. This amendment, ratified in 1868, includes key provisions that ensure no state can deny any person within its jurisdiction equal protection under the laws and due process. The incorporation doctrine emerges from the 14th Amendment, which allows for the application of federal rights to individuals at the state level, ensuring that states also uphold certain rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

In contrast, the 10th Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people, but it does not specifically apply rights. The 8th Amendment addresses issues related to excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment but does not convey broader rights applicable to the states. The 1st Amendment focuses on freedoms such as speech, religion, and assembly, primarily addressing federal constraints initially before subsequent interpretations applied them at state levels through the 14th Amendment.