Civil Rights AP US Government (Chapter 6)

Presentation Outline Defining Civil Rights Civil Rights Amendments African-Americans Women’s Rights Affirmative Action Gays and New Civil Rights Groups

1) Civil Rights v Civil Liberties Civil Rights: Freedom from unequal treatment Ex: race, gender Civil Liberties: Basic, guaranteed rights Ex: 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 Amendments 13th 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 Inequality Segregation Discrimination Unable to fairly participate in politics What are the solutions to these problems?

African Americans Solutions Gain support of political elites Publicize grievances Television Organize 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 Amendment Originally intended for railroad cars but eventually applied to all public facilities

NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Formed by black and whites in 1909 in response to race riots Made it a goal to repeal ‘Separate but Equal’ doctrine Provided 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 opinion Stated 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 help The 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 agenda Often 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 Acts Employment Advancement Education

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 draft 2. 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 Constitution Gay marriage Many state constitutions amended to prohibit practice

Americans with Disabilities Americans With Disabilities Act (1990): Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability