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Updates Important Reminders 1. The AP US Government needs completion in less than 6 weeks!! 2. Please make sure all Exam arrangements with schools are completed. 3. AP Exam verification form 4. 2009 AP US Government and Politics Exam 5. Course review site 6. Questions?
Civil Rights Agenda: Background of Civil Rights Movement The Civil Rights Movement in Court The Civil Rights Movement in Congress Women and Equal Rights Affirmative Action Multiple Choice Practice
Background of Civil Rights Movement
Civil Rights – the rights of people to be treated without unreasonable or unconstitutional differences. Chapter 6 – page. 123 Until recently African Americans could not: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Background of Civil Rights Movement
What was responsible for the slow pace with which African Americans attained civil rights? 1. Politically dominant white minorities in the South. 2. White majority at the national level opposed African American attempts to achieve rights and federal actions to secure those rights. Progress in achieving Civil Rights depended on: 1. Turned perceived interest group into majoritarian issue. 2. Moved legal and political struggle from Congress to the federal courts.
Civil Rights Movement in the Courts Fourteenth Amendment -loose interpretation argued that African Americans had equal rights but could be treated differently than whites.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) -This case is an example of the Supreme Court adopting this narrow interpretation. -”separate but equal” facilities to be constitutional http://www.oyez.org/cases/1851-1900/1895/1895_210/
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) established in 1909 to fight “separate but equal” doctrine. Separate is inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional
Civil Rights Movement in the Courts
Brown v. Board of Education http://www.oyez.org/cases/1950-1959/1952/1952_1/ -one of the most important Supreme Court cases and will appear on your AP Exam! -judicial activism -Culmination of NAACP’s work (court cases from 19381954) -Ruled separate schools were inherently unequal and overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (unanimous decision)
Civil Rights Movement in the Courts Brown v. Board of Education (continued) Implementation
-Court ruled that integration should proceed in public schools “with all deliberate speed”. South = slow pace -Southern Manifesto – declared Brown decision abuse of judicial power (judicial activism) -50’s and 60’s National Guard escorted students to school -Resistance collapsed in 70’s mostly due to voting power of African Americans
Civil Rights Movement in Courts
Rationale -The Brown decision argued segregation was detrimental to African American students. -A sense of inferiority
-Court based decision on social science
Civil Rights Movement in Courts
Desegregation vs. Integration -In the South segregation by law was unconstitutional as a result of Brown. (de jure segregation - official) -In the North segregation took place through residential segregation. (de facto segregation - residential) -Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education -Busing can be ended if segregation is caused by shifting housing patterns
Civil Rights Movement in Congress
Civil Rights Movement in Congress Try to get civil right issues on political agenda through dramatic events -sit ins at lunch counters -”freedom rides” on segregated bus -register blacks to vote despite intimidation -Rosa Parks bus boycott organized by MLK Jr.
Strong defensive positions for opponents in Congress -Southern Democrats controlled Senate Judiciary Committee -Southerner controlled the House Rules Committee -filibuster in Senate when civil rights legislation came to floor -President Kennedy reluctant to pass civil rights legislation
Civil Rights Movement in Congress
How did civil rights legislation pass? 1. Public opinion shifted with time
2. Violent reactions from white segregationists covered by media 3. Assassination of President Kennedy – gave President Johnson strong relationship with Congress and promoted civil rights.
4. 1964 election – Northern Democrats seized power in Congress
Civil Rights Movement in Congress
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Equality of opportunity in employment, public accommodations, voting and schools. Congressional leaders guaranteed passage by: a discharge petition on the House Rules Committee. avoidance of the Senate Judiciary Committee. a cloture vote to quash a filibuster. creation of a bipartisan bill.
What is the difference between civil rights and civil liberties?
Women and Equal Rights Women and Equal Rights Supreme Court responded by passing laws based on “reasonableness” standard. Treatment must be reasonable and not arbitrary. The Draft Rostker v. Goldberg (1981) Supreme Court held Congress can require men but not women to register for the draft without violating due-process
1993 the secretary of defense allowed women to have air and sea combat positions but not ground.
Women and Equal Rights
Abortion Left to the states until 1973 Roe v. Wade – Supreme Court ruling struck down a Texan ban on abortion and all similar state laws. A woman’s right to choose an abortion is protected under the 14th Amendment in the first trimester of pregnancy. -States can place restrictions on second trimester and ban abortions during third trimester.
Affirmative Action Affirmative Action a policy giving special consideration to groups that have been disadvantaged historically.
Equality of results – equal rights are not enough, people need to benefit. Affirmative action should be used Equality of opportunities – reverse discrimination occurs when race or gender is used for preferential treatment
Affirmative Action
California v. Bakke 1978 Supreme Court ruled numerical minority quotas are not permissible but race could be considered in admissions policy. Court supports affirmative action but reluctant to support quotas. Court ruled affirmative action programs must be “narrowly tailored” to achieve “compelling goal”.
Multiple Choice Practice All of the following made it difficult for African Americans to gain equality EXCEPT: A. Blacks were in the minority population in the states with the most discrimination B. Lower-income whites were worried that gains by blacks would be at their expense C. Because blacks could not vote, they had little influence in policy-making D. Racism by whites blocked blacks’ efforts to gain equality E. Until the early 1960’s, most citizens of the North did little to help blacks in the South gain equality.
Multiple Choice Practice In the 1960’s, Denver, Colorado, had several racially distinct neighborhoods. Denver public schools developed a neighborhood school plan in which students would attend schools closest to home. On what grounds was this plan challenged? A. That is was de jure segregation B. That is was de facto segregation C. That the plan did not allow students the freedom to travel to a school of choice D. That the plan would not allow black students to attend schools with whites E. There was no valid legal basis for challenging this plan
Multiple Choice Practice After many delays, all of the following events enabled the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 EXCEPT: A. Public opinion was changing, and more whites supported civil rights B. The media, making the public aware of the discrimination faced by blacks, showed violence by white segregationists C. President Kennedy, who was a proponent of civil rights was assassinated D. Most southern whites favored desegregation once public schools became integrated E. The government was united, with Democrats controlling the presidency, House and Senate
Multiple Choice Practice What was the Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade (1971)? A. A woman has unrestricted right to abortion throughout her pregnancy B. States may restrict abortions throughout pregnancy to protect woman’s health C. States may prohibit abortion during second and third trimesters D. The right to an abortion is unlimited during the first trimester, but states may regulate abortions to protect woman’s health in second trimester E. Abortion is outlawed, except cases of rape or incest, or where the woman’s health would be seriously compromised
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