1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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 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

5. 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.

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

7. 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?

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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