“The Civil Rights Struggle”

Separate and Not Equal “Civil Rights” are the rights of full citizenship and equality under the law – these rights have been taken away from various groups throughout American History.

Forced Internment One example of a violation of civil rights took place during WWII – the government actually restricted the rights of certain Americans during this time. Executive Order #9066 was issued by President F D Roosevelt during WWII that forced many Japanese Americans into internment camps as a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Forced Internment is the act of making people relocate for a certain amount of time.

Separate and Not Equal Despite gaining freedom in 1865 and the addition of the “Civil War Amendments” (13, 14 and 15) many African Americans still did not receive the same treatment as others.

Civil Rights Struggles “Discrimination” (unfair treatment based on prejudice against certain groups) against many groups was common throughout the U.S. “Segregation” is the social separation of the races In the South, “Jim Crow Laws” were created to separate the races.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While African Americans fared a little better in Northern states, their struggle for “civil rights” continued for over 100 years after the 13th Amendment. Civil Disobedience - means “non-violent resistance” such as boycotts, marches, and demonstrations. In the 1950’s, a Baptist preacher named Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. became the voice of the “Civil Rights” movement in the U.S. and believed in non-violent resistance

“I Have A Dream” In 1963, Dr. King gave the historic “I Have A Dream” speech to thousands in Washington DC; inspiring a nation and helping push forward civil rights issues.

Civil Disobedience Many African American students and others followed Dr. King’s teachings and had “sit-ins” in white only restaurants and lunch counters. Also, many people believing in changed, called “Freedom Riders” traveled on buses to protest segregation in the South

Organizations Making a Difference In 1909, the “National Association for the Advancement of Colored People” (“NAACP”) was created (founded by W.E.B DuBois) It’s goal was to challenge laws and customs that denied African Americans their Constitutional rights.

Organizations Making a Difference The “National Urban League” was founded in 1910 to help African Americans find jobs and improve their opportunities It focused mostly on those who were living in large, urban cities throughout the U.S.

Gains in Civil Rights In 1948, President Truman ended segregation in the U.S. armed forces

“Equal Protection Under the Law” The Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution guaranteed “equal protection” and “due process of law” to all – thus bringing the rights of the Bill of Rights to state and local levels as well. This “equal protection / due process” clause has been used often in history to guarantee rights to many groups!

Gains in Civil Rights In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson which said segregation was legal as long as things were “separate but equal” In 1954, Brown vs. Board of Education was a landmark court case that challenged segregation in public schools. This case overturned Plessy. Lawyers from the “NAACP” successfully argued that segregation was unconstitutional.

“Civil Rights Act of 1964” The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by Congress and prohibited discrimination in public facilities, employment, education, and voter registration (by race, gender, religion, or national origin)

“Voting Rights Act of 1965” The “Voting Rights Act of 1965” empowered the federal government to intervene in voter registration discrimination. This prevented the states from going against the provisions in the 15th Amendment.

“Civil Rights Act of 1968” The “Civil Rights Act of 1968” was passed by Congress and prohibited discrimination in housing (by race, gender, religion, or national origin). The Fair Housing Act has become a central feature of modern Civil Rights enforcement, enabling persons in the protected classes to rent or own residential property in areas that were previously segregated.

“Equal Rights Amendment” “Equal Rights Amendment” - Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the Unites States or by any state on account of gender. Intended to give women constitutional protection beyond the Equal protection Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. This Amendment did NOT receive ratification from the required 38 states and thus did not pass.

Civil Rights Legislation

State’s Rights The 10th Amendment was added as part of the Bill of Rights to protect the states that feared that the strong federal government would take too much control. This was not always fair to all groups of people, so we have worked to make changes.

Other Challenges Many groups benefited have from the new civil rights legislations over the years. Minorities Disabled Elderly Women

“Affirmative Action” In the 1970’s, “affirmative action” programs we implemented to expedite changes in hiring and promoting minority groups and women

“Affirmative Action” In 2003, “affirmative action” was brought to the Supreme Court after accusations that it discriminated against whites and men. In “Gratz vs. Bollinger”, the Court found that the University of Michigan’s admission policy favored minority applicants at the expense of others.

Current Issues “Racial profiling” (singling out suspects based on appearance) is still an issue for some minority groups. This is very controversial and illegal in most jurisdictions. “Hate Crimes” (acts of violence based on a person’s race, color, national origin, gender, or disability) also occur. These are illegal and carry stiff penalties.

Current Issues Though much change has been made, we can always strive to do better and work to make sure ALL people receive Equal Protection under the law. How can we make a difference???