May 7 th 1840Composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in Votkinsk, Russia 1939 Germany and Italy announced a military and political alliance, the Rome-Berlin Axis 1945 Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France, to take effect the following day, ending the European conflict of World War II 1992A 203-year-old proposed constitutional amendment barring Congress from giving itself a midterm pay raise was ratified when Michigan became the 38th state to approve it On this date in history…

American Civil Rights

Civil Rights and the Declaration of Independence We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Pre-test: How Laws Work 1.Why do Federal laws trump State laws? The Supremacy Clause 2.What amendment gave non-whites the right to vote? The 15 th Amendment 3.What amendment gave women the right to vote? The 19 th Amendment 4.Who was specifically excluded from protections of the 14 th Amendment? “Indians not taxed” 5.In what year did the voting age change from 21 to 18?

Pre-test: How Laws Work 1.Why do Federal laws trump State laws? The Supremacy Clause 2.What amendment gave non-whites the right to vote? The 15 th Amendment 3.What amendment gave women the right to vote? The 19 th Amendment 4.Who was specifically excluded from protections of the 14 th Amendment? “Indians not taxed” 5.In what year did the voting age change from 21 to 18?

13 th Amendment 1865 Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. End of slavery 14 th Amendment 1868 All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. Establishment of citizenship requirements and equal protection of laws 15 th Amendment 1870 The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The right to vote cannot be denied due to race, color, or if you were previously a slave Civil Rights and the Constitution

19 th Amendment 1920 The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. The right to vote can no longer be denied to women 24 th Amendment 1964 The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President… shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax. Requiring people to pay a poll tax in order to vote is outlawed 26 th Amendment 1971 The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age. The right to vote was changed from age 21 to 18 Civil Rights and the Constitution

The Supremacy Clause Article VI, paragraph 2: This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

Civil Rights under Federal Law What are the steps for asserting civil rights under Federal law?

Civil Rights under Federal Law What are the steps for changing civil rights under Federal law? 1.The law is implemented (Legislative branch) 2.The law is enforced (Executive branch) 3.The law is upheld as Constitutional or overturned (Judicial branch)

Civil Rights under Federal Law Example of how it works: 1.The 14 th Amendment to the Constitution is adopted and it requires equal protection under the law for all citizens. 2.The plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education claim that segregation of schools violates the equal protection clause of 14 th Amendment. 3.The Supreme Court rules that segregation in education specifically violates the equal protection clause and orders desegregation of public school systems. 4.Some states refuse to desegregate and the federal government has to step in to enforce the law.