Unit 9; Civil Rights and Civil Liberties An introduction

What is the difference between rights and liberties? Civil Rights: Civil Liberties Actions taken by the government to ensure equal opportunity between groups of people; protections for groups of people These are acts of Congress Freedoms of the people; limitations of the powers of the government which protect the people from the government These are identified in the Bill of Rights

Many liberties are identified in The Bill of Rights Amendment II, III & IV: Security of the Person Amendment I: The Five Freedoms Amendments VI, VII & VIII: Fair Trials and Punishments Amendment V: Rights of the Accused Amendments IX & X: Extending the Rights

Selective Incorporation The Bill of Rights was intended as protections against the Federal Government – each state already had a Bill of Rights in their constitutions. After the Civil War, the 14th Amendment extended citizenship and due process to all citizens. Selective Incorporation is the application of these liberties and rights to the states. Not ALL of the protections have been extended…