CIVIL RIGHTS

Many people confuse the terms civil liberties and civil rights. Civil liberties are certain individual freedoms we expect as citizens. They include the freedoms of speech and religion. Civil rights are the rights of citizens not to be discriminated against because of their race, sex, or disability. They include the right to vote and equal access to education.

Civil Rights Amendments AMENDMENT NUMBER YEAR ADOPTED ACCOMPLISHMENT Abolished slavery Due process and equal protection of the laws Gave African Americans the right to vote Gave women the right to vote Lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18

Civil Rights of Minorities The 13 th and 15 th Amendments didn’t end discrimination and segregation The Civil Rights Act of 1964 – ended segregation in schools and public facilities – required equal opportunity for employment The Voting Rights Act of 1965 – Eliminated most barriers to voting The Executive Branch can discontinue federal aid to local and state governments that discriminate based on race

Civil Rights of Women In 1900, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming gave women the right to vote in state and local elections All women didn’t win the right to vote until 1919 Other concerns for women – Equal right to jobs – Equal pay

Civil Rights of the Disabled The 5 th and 14 th Amendments only applied to national and state governments The Americans with Disabilities Act – 1990 – Made it illegal to discriminate against the disabled – Includes employment, transportation, and public accomodations

Civil Rights of the Young and Aged The Constitution forbids unreasonable restrictions