Topic 6 – Role of the people #17 – Extending civil rights to all minority groups

Struggle for civil rights in the 20th century The Constitution guarantees every american basic civil rights Throughout our history, minority groups have not enjoyed these rights The u.s. gov’t. has taken actions to ensure that civil rights are accessible to everyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, & gender

Examples include… 19th amendment – granted voting rights to women 24th amendment – eliminated the failure to pay taxes as a reason to deny participation in voting for federal elections The president used the national guard to help integrate schools The justice department brought charges against violators of open housing legislation Congress enacted a series of civil rights/voting rights acts during the 1960’s & 1970’s The u.s. supreme court used the incorporation of the due process clause of the 14th amendment to apply the bill of rights protections for minority groups to state governments as well as the federal government

Civil rights movement (1950’s – 60’s) Assign. in groups of 2-3 students, use google to investigate the civil rights movement of the 1950s through the 1960s. Complete all of the following questions in a power point or prezi… 1.)identify & briefly describe in at least one paragraph (3-5 sentences) the resulting achievements of this movement for minorities & their impact on current civic life 2.) describe how the passage of the civil rights act (1964) helped open access to more elements of american society & provide more opportunities to minorities 3.) describe how the laws passed by congress in the 1960s (civil rights act of 1964, voting rights act of 1965), executive acts (integration of the military, affirmative action programs) & Supreme court decisions (brown v. Board of education, regents of the university of california v. Bakke) helped to enforce the rights addressed by the 14th & 15th amendments