Civil Rights: protection of citizens by government 1865 the 13th Amendment abolished slavery 1868 the 14th Amendment guaranteed equal protection under the constitution 1869 the 15th Amendment guaranteed voting rights for Blacks

Civil Rights Case off 1875 The 1875 Civil Rights Act Passed by a bi-racial Congress Protected all Americans, regardless of race Permitted access to public places - restaurants, theaters, trains, etc. Also protected the right to serve on juries

Landmark Supreme Cases 1883 Supreme Court declared the 14th & 15th Amendment unconstitutional 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson: SC ruled that separate but equal was acceptable 1954 Brown v. Board :SC overturned Plessy v. Ferguson

Supreme Court June 2013 Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision Shelby v. Holder, voided parts of Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Under the 1965 Act certain jurisdictions had to seek preclearance before implementing changes to their voter laws- e.g.,Texas, Alabama SC decision blocks the authority of Congress to enact legislation to root out voter suppression under the 15th Amendment

Post war Civil Rights Legislations 1957, 82 years after the 1875 Civil Rights Act a new federal law to protect civil rights was enacted in congress 1964 Civil Rights Act legislation was introduced Outlawed discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religious minorities, & women It introduced equality in voter registration Ended racial segregation in schools, the workplace & by places that served the general public 1965 Congress strengthened voter rights legislation; e.g., banned literacy tests.

Affirmative Action What is it? Why was it introduced? When was it introduced?

Redress past injustices against specified groups based on race, color, religion, sex by creating access to employment and educational opportunities Is it …. Attempt to level the playing field ? Reverse discrimination? Positive discrimination? Does it end discrimination?

Some Historical Perspectives Racism was institutionalized with the; 3/5 Compromise legitimized slavery 1896 Supreme Court’s ruling that “separate but equal” was ok in Plessy v. Ferguson

Introduced by Executive Order 1941 Exec. Order by Pres. F.D.R banned segregationist hiring policies by defense companies which held federal contracts 1953 Pres.Truman urged the Bureau of Employment Security "to act positively and affirmatively to implement the policy of nondiscrimination . . . ." 1954 S C in Brown v. Board overturned Plessy v. Ferguson.

1961 The phrase "affirmative action" was first used in President John F. Kennedy Exec. Order which required federal contractors to hire applicants regardless of race, color, national origin

1965 same language was later used in Lyndon Johnson in his Exec. Order 1967 Johnson expanded the Exec. Order to include women under affirmative action requirements Civil Rights Acts of 1960’s might have ended state sanctioned discrimination, but did not end racism in America

Is it a quota system? Few days ago Pres. Obama suggested some form of employment tax breaks for companies who hire veterans Is that a quota system ? Several Ivy League colleges reserve spaces for children of their big donors Equality vs. Liberty