How did the 14th amendment the process of granting former slaves citizenship and the rights that had been previously denied to them? the 14th amendment defined a citizen as a person born or naturalized in the united states, regardless of color. the 14th amendment guaranteed the right to vote despite race, color, or previous condition of servitude. the 14th amendment abolished slavery in the united states. the 14th amendment stated that citizens were defined by whether they owned property.