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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
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.
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