Civil RightsAP US Government (Chapter 6)

Presentation Outline

1) Defining Civil Rights

2) Civil Rights Amendments

3) African-Americans

4) Women’s Rights

5) Affirmative Action

6) Gays and New Civil Rights Groups

1) Civil Rights v Civil Liberties Civil Rights: Freedom from unequal

treatmentEx: race, gender

Civil Liberties: Basic, guaranteed rightsEx: Bill of Rights (speech, religion, arms)

Civil Rights

*Definition The rights of people to be treated without unreasonable or unconstitutional differences.

The responsibility to determine unreasonable is held by the government.

2) Civil Rights Amendments13th Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery

14th Amendment(1868):Equal Protection

15th Amendment (1870):Right to vote cannot be denied on the basis of color

19th Amendment (1920):Right to vote cannot be denied on the basis of gender

24th Amendment (1964):Prohibits states from using poll taxes in federal elections

Groups Blacks Women Homosexuals Minorities Disabled

3) African Americans

Problems InequalitySegregationDiscriminationUnable to fairly participate in politics

What are the solutions to these problems?

African Americans

SolutionsGain support of political elitesPublicize grievances

TelevisionOrganize movement

Million Man March Montgomery Bus Boycott

Used Courts instead of Congress Pushed civil rights to the front of the political agenda

14th Amendment

Ex-Slaves made citizens Due-Process clause applied to states Equal-Protection clause

Originally only essential rights were protected

Serving on jury-protected Checking into hotel-NOT protected

Plessy v Ferguson (1896)

Determined that ‘Separate but Equal’ facilities comply with 14th AmendmentOriginally intended for railroad cars but

eventually applied to all public facilities

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored PeopleFormed by black and whites in 1909 in

response to race riotsMade it a goal to repeal ‘Separate but Equal’

doctrineProvided Lobbyists/ Lawyers

Brown v Board Education Topeka, Kansas (1954) Decision- ‘Separate but Equal’ has a

detrimental effect on upon colored children by generating a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community, and may effect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely to ever be undone” Unanimous opinionStated in a way that would make it

EXTREMELY difficult to overturn

Brown v Board Education Topeka, Kansas (1954) Implementation

‘With All Deliberate Speed’National Guard called to helpThe rise in black voters eventually made

fighting the decision impossible

By the1970’s 14% of blacks still attended all black schools

Congress and the Civil Rights Movement Many House and Senate committees were

controlled by southern democrats Non-racist whites were completely

indifferent to black issues Civil disobedience used to push

movement up on political agendaOften criticized for moving too fast- too radical

Civil Rights Movement-Momentum 1. Public Opinion-Slowly began to favor blacks 2. Violent attacks by whites publicized by television 3. Assassination of JFK-

Originally thought to be a right-wing conspiracy 4. 1964 Election-

Lyndon Johnson & Northern Democrats in House and Senate

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Made racial discrimination illegal in hotels, motels, restaurants, and

other places of public accommodation

Forbade discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or gender

Created the (EEOC) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to monitor and enforce protections against job discrimination

Provided for withholding federal grants from state and local governments and other institutions that practiced racial discrimination

Strengthened voting rights legislation

Authorized the US Justice Department to initiate lawsuits to desegregate public schools and facilities

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African American suffrage.

Hundreds of thousands of African Americans were registered, and the number of African American elected officials increased dramatically.

Black voter participation before and after the Voting Rights Act

Racial Profiling

‘Driving while black’ Ferguson, Missouri (cops

targeting young Black men) Middle Easterners

Post 9/11

Is it right for law enforcement to target a group that statistically commits more crimes???

4) Women’ Rights

Right to vote- 19th Amendment (1920) Equal Pay for Equal Work (pregnancy) Sexual Harassment Equal Opportunities-1964 &1972 Civil

Rights ActsEmploymentAdvancementEducation

Women’s Rights

Problems Some laws were in place to protect women

while creating inequality

Ex: Oregon law limiting work for women based on physical strength and capacity for long-continued labor

Women’s Laws Title IX of the Education

Act of 1972 Pregnancy

Discrimination Act of 1978: forbids gender discrimination in federally subsidized education programs

1996 Supreme Court decided that single gender schooling violates women’s right to equal protection of the law

Women in the Military

Women are now part of the regular service since 1975

Make up 15% in the Armed forces

Discrepancies:1. Only men must register for the draft2. Prohibits women from serving in combat (today=no ground combat in Army and Marines)

5) Affirmative Action

Designed to increase minority participation in business, schools, unions, or government agencies

Should the Constitution be blind to color, race, and religion or level the playing field??

Affirmative Action

Reverse Discrimination- Using race or sex to give preferential treatment to certain people

Equality of Opportunity- Giving people an equal chance to succeed

If life is a race, should the government set the starting line?

Affirmative Action…

In employment United Steelworks v. Weber (1979)

Quotas to remedy past discrimination are constitutional.

Adarand Constructors v. Pena (1995) To be constitutional, affirmative action must be “narrowly

tailored” to meet a “compelling governmental interest.” Did not ban affirmative action, but severely limited its reach

6) Newly Active Groups under Civil Rights

Gay Liberation Movement

People with Disabilities

Gay and Lesbian Rights Groups

How has civil rights helped these groups?

Gay and Lesbian Rights

Bowers v. Hardwick (1986) Lawrence v. Texas (2003)

Overturned Bowers Private homosexual acts are protected by the

ConstitutionGay marriage

Many state constitutions amended to prohibit practice

Americans with Disabilities

Americans With Disabilities Act (1990):

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability