Politics and Civil Rights - Introduction to American Government - Lecture Slides, Slides of Political Science

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Politics and Civil Rights

Definition

Political Scientist James MacGregor Burns defines civil rights thusly

“Rights of all persons, not just citizens, to equal protection of

the laws; the constitutional right not to be discriminated

against by GOVERNMENTS because of race, ethnic

background, religion, or gender. Civil rights include the

right not to be denied our lives, liberties, or property by

government without due process of law. These civil rights are

protected by the due process and equal protection clauses of

the 5th^ and 14th^ Amendments and by civil rights laws of

national and state governments.”

Slavery, Segregation, and the Constitution

Three constitutional amendments were aimed at

providing protection for African Americans

-Thirteenth Amendment (1865): Outlawed slavery -Fourteenth Amendment (1868): Guaranteed equal protection of the laws -Fifteenth Amendment (1870): Guaranteed voting rights to all persons

Slavery, Segregation, and the

Constitution

Jim Crow Laws were enacted which mandated

rigid racial segregation throughout southern

society

Equal Protection and the Laws

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) sought to use the courts to challenge segregation and discrimination

NAACP was created at a moment when African Americans faced their greatest hostility from American society

Equal Protection and the Laws

In 1953, the Supreme

Court heard the case of

Brown v. Board of

Education , argued by

NAACP attorney,

Thurgood Marshall

Court overturned Plessy v.

Ferguson

Equality: Opportunity

Minority Life Chances

Versus Results

Gender Equality in the Economy

The Earnings Gap: Median Weekly Earnings of Men and Women