American Government - Civil Rights - Quick Guides | Political Science

Preview (6 of 18 Pages)

100%

American Government - Civil Rights - Page 1 preview image

Loading page ...

Study GuideAmerican Government–Civil Rights1.Slavery and Civil RightsCivil libertiesandcivil rightsare related, but they are not the same thing.•Civil libertiesprotect individuals from unfair government actions.•Civil rightsfocus on protecting people fromdiscriminationbased on characteristics such asrace, religion, national origin, gender, or age.Civil rights are rooted in theEqual Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which saysthat no state may “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Thisclause became the foundation for the long struggle for equality in the United States.1.1A Long Struggle for EqualityAlthough the United States was founded on the idea that “all men are created equal,” the reality wasvery different. For much of American history, laws did not treat people equally. In fact, it was not untilthemid-20th centurythat the nation began taking serious, widespread action against discrimination.To understand civil rights today, it helps to look at key moments in history that shaped the debate—especially the issue ofslavery.1.2Slavery in Early AmericaSlavery existed in the United States from its earliest days and waslegal until 1865. While theConstitution avoided directly mentioning slavery (except for the slave trade), it largely left the issue tothe states.Over time:•Northern statesgradually ended slavery before the Civil War.•However, free African Americans in the North werenot treated as equals. Many were deniedthe right to vote, hold office, serve on juries, or join the militia.This inequality showed that ending slavery did not automatically mean full civil rights.

American Government - Civil Rights - Page 2 preview image

Loading page ...

Study Guide1.3The Missouri Compromise (1820)By the early 1800s, Americans realized the nation was deeply divided over slavery. This tensionbecame clear whenMissouri, a slave territory, applied for statehood in1819.At the time:•The number offree states and slave states was equal.•Admitting Missouri as a slave state would give the South more power in the Senate.To solve this problem, Congress passed theMissouri Compromise, developed byHenry Clay. It didthree key things:•AdmittedMissourias a slave state•AdmittedMaineas a free state to keep the balance•Declared that all future territoriesnorth of latitude 36°30′would be freeAfter this, states were often admitted inpairs, one free and one slave, to maintain balance inCongress.1.4The Compromise of 1850The issue of slavery came up again after the United States gained new territory from theMexicanWar. To address growing tensions, Congress passed a group of laws called theCompromise of1850.This compromise:•AdmittedCaliforniaas a free state•Ended theslave trade in Washington, D.C.•AllowedNew Mexico and Utahto decide the slavery issue themselves•Passed a strictfugitive slave law, making it a federal crime to help escaped slavesWhile the compromise temporarily reduced conflict, it also increased tensions between North andSouth.

American Government - Civil Rights - Page 3 preview image

Loading page ...

Study Guide1.5The Dred ScoƩDecision (1857)In one of the most controversial Supreme Court decisions,Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Court ruledthat:•Enslaved people remained slaves even if they lived in a free state•African Americans werenot citizensand hadno constitutional rightsChief JusticeRoger B. Taneyalso declared theMissouri Compromise unconstitutional, arguingthat it violated the property rights of slave owners. This decision outraged many in the North andpushed the country closer to civil war.1.6The EmancipaƟon ProclamaƟon and the End of SlaveryTheCivil War (1861–1865)began over the question of whether states could leave the Union. As thewar continued, ending slavery became a major goal of the North.OnJanuary 1, 1863, PresidentAbraham Lincolnissued theEmancipation Proclamation. Usinghis war powers, Lincoln declared that slaves inrebel-held areaswere free.Although the proclamation did not technically free all enslaved people:•It encouraged thousands to escape plantations•It shifted the war’s purpose toward ending slavery•It weakened the ConfederacySlavery officially ended only after the war, when theThirteenth Amendmentwas ratified in1865.Southern states were required to accept this amendment before rejoining the Union.1.7Why This History MaƩersThe story of slavery and civil rights shows how slowly and painfully the United States has movedtoward equality. Each compromise, court ruling, and amendment shaped the nation’s understandingof freedom and justice. This history laid the groundwork for later civil rights movements and continuesto influence debates about equality today.

American Government - Civil Rights - Page 4 preview image

Loading page ...

Study Guide2.SegregaƟon in the United StatesTheend of slaverywas a major step forward, but it didnotbring true equality for formerly enslavedpeople. After the Civil War, African Americans continued to face discrimination, especially in theSouth. Laws, court decisions, and everyday practices worked together to keep people separated byrace for decades.2.1Life AŌer SlaveryIn the years immediately following slavery, Southern states passedblack codes. These were locallaws designed to limit the freedom of former slaves. Black codes:•Restricted where African Americans could work•Limited their ability to move freely•Made it difficult to leave plantations or gain economic independenceTo counter these laws, Congress passed theCivil Rights Act of 1866, which made AfricanAmericans citizens. This was followed by three important constitutional amendments:•Fourteenth Amendment (1868):Guaranteed citizenship andequal protection under thelaw•Fifteenth Amendment (1870):Protected theright to voteregardless of raceOn paper, these changes promised equality. In practice, however, equality was hard to achieve.2.2Weak Enforcement of Civil RightsAfrican Americans soon realized that constitutional promises did not automatically lead to realprotection. TheSupreme Court interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment very narrowly, ruling thatthe federal government could not prosecute private individuals for discrimination.As a result:•Lynchings and mob violencewere left to the states to address•Many states failed to protect African AmericansAfter the end ofReconstruction in 1877, Southern states quickly moved to take away AfricanAmericans’ civil rights. Within a generation, many of the gains made after the Civil War were lost.

American Government - Civil Rights - Page 5 preview image

Loading page ...

Study Guide2.3Jim Crow LawsSouthern states passedJim Crow laws, which legally enforced racial segregation. These lawsseparated people by race in nearly every part of daily life.In theCivil Rights Cases (1883), the Supreme Court struck down theCivil Rights Act of 1875,which had banned racial segregation in public places such as hotels and trains. This decision clearedthe way for Jim Crow laws to spread.Under Jim Crow:•Black and white passengers had separate train and streetcar cars•Schools were segregated•Public buildings had separate entrances and waiting areas•Restrooms, drinking fountains, and even museum visiting hours were divided by raceBecause this separation was required by law, it was known asde jure segregation.2.4The “Separate but Equal” DoctrineIn1896,Homer Plessychallenged segregation by sitting in a railroad car reserved for whitepassengers. His case,Plessy v. Ferguson, went to the Supreme Court.The Court ruled that segregation was constitutional as long as facilities for different races were“separate but equal.”This decision became known as theseparate but equal doctrine.In reality, facilities were rarely equal:•Black schools received outdated textbooks and equipment•School buildings were often run-down and poorly funded•Public facilities for African Americans were consistently inferiorThis ruling allowed segregation to continue in schools, theaters, beaches, and sports facilities fordecades.2.5SegregaƟon Beyond the SouthBy the early 20th century, segregation was widespread across the United States. Until the1950s,American society remained deeply divided by race.

American Government - Civil Rights - Page 6 preview image

Loading page ...

Study GuideExamples included:•Major League Baseball, which remained segregated until1947, forcing African Americans toplay in theNegro Leagues•Hollywood, which limited African Americans to stereotypical roles or produced “all-Black”films shown only in segregated theatersSegregation was not limited to the South. It also existed in cities likeChicagoandLos Angeles,showing that racial discrimination was a national issue.2.6Barriers to VoƟngAfrican Americans were also systematically denied the right to vote. Southern states used severaltactics to keep them from the polls, including:•Poll taxes, which required voters to pay a fee•Literacy tests, often unfairly administered•Grandfather clauses, which exempted white voters from restrictions•Property qualifications, which required land ownershipThese methods dramatically reduced African-American voter participation, especially outside largeurban areas.2.7Why SegregaƟon MaƩers in Civil Rights HistorySegregation shows how laws and court decisions can be used to limit freedom and maintaininequality, even when the Constitution promises equal protection. Understanding this history helpsexplain why the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century was necessary—and why the fight forequality did not end with the abolition of slavery.3.Breaking Down SegregaƟonEnding segregation in the United States has been along and challenging process. Early progresscame throughpresidential actionsandSupreme Court decisions. Although segregation writteninto law has been eliminated,de facto segregation—segregation that exists because of incomelevels and housing patterns—still remains in many areas today.

Preview Mode

This document has 18 pages. Sign in to access the full document!

Report

American Government - Civil Rights

Study Now!

Document Details

Related Documents

American Government - The Judiciary

American Government - Voting and Elections

American Government - The President

American Government - The Mass Media

American Government - The Constitution

American Government - The Bureaucracy

American Government - Public Policy

American Government - Public Opinion

American Government - Political Parties

American Government - Interest Groups

Company

Explore

Study Tools