Discrimination based on inherent characteristics like race,...

Discrimination based on inherent characteristics like race, national origin, religion, and sex merit a greater level of protection under the law than other qualities.  Race, religion, national origin, and sex are considered suspect characteristics are assumed to be illegitimate.  One legacy of slavery in the United States was a system of racial segregation. Under this system, both the states and the federal government condoned and accepted a structure of inherent inequality for African Americans in nearly all aspects of life, and they were forced to use separate facilities.  Through the efforts of the early and modern civil rights organizations chinks appeared in the armor of the segregationists. The strategy of using the justice system to right previous wrongs proved instrumental in radically changing the nations educational system, public accommodations, employment, housing, among other areas within the Supreme Court, as well as winning victories in both legislatures and the court of public opinion among the American people.

The 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, New York which produced the Declaration of Sentiments, was the beginning of the first wave of women's rights movement.  In 120 women won the right to vote with the 19th Amendment.  In addition to African Americans and women, numerous other groups have battled for, and continue to fight for equal treatment under the law.  These groups include Native Americans, Latino and Asian Americans citizens, citizens with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered citizens. Since 1866 , the national government has enacted civil rights laws that have prohibited discrimination.  In a 1961  Executive Oder, President Kennedy introduced the nation to a proactive policy of intentional actions to recruit minority male workers, he labeled Affirmative Action.  President Johnson extended the Order to women.  Affirmative Action has been been controversial.                 

The Constitution of the United States of America - and more specifically, the Bill of Rights, the Ten Amendments - protects individuals against the unrestrained against the unrestrained exercise of power b the federal government.  The Framers intended the Bill of Rights to ensure that individuals could engage freely in political speech and civic discourse in the larger society.  Although the Bill of Rights was initially interpreted as imposing limits only on the national government, over time the Supreme Court has interpreted most of its protections as applying to the state governments as well.  

Civic engagement is possible only in a society that fully protects civil liberties.  Some of the civil liberties.  Some of the civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights relate specifically to political participation and discourse.  Most importantly, the freedoms of speech, assembly, petition, and the press empower individuals to engage actively and freely in politics and public life.  Other Bill of Rights freedoms encourage inclusiveness and community building, ensuring that individuals can be fully engaged in the social life of the nation.  The freedom of religion, right to privacy, and criminal due process protections ensure that no one individual or group may be singled out for either favorable or unfavorable treatment.            

              

1. What are civil liberties?  What are civil rights? And, please explain specifically how civil liberties differ from civil rights in America?  Identify and explain a civil liberties injustice and the strategies utilized to erase the denial of individual civil liberties. 

2.  What tactics were used by many Southerners used to prevent African Americans from achieving equality before the Civil Rights Era of the 1950's-1960's?  Please identify and explain the strategy of early civil rights movements employed to end discrimination?   

3.  Please identify and discuss an American group (not African American) which has fought for equal rights as granted to others within the nation.  Which basic human rights violations has this group been denied?  Which Constitutional Amendments has the group relied upon for their claims and defense?   

4.   Identify and explain at least two civil liberties that the federal and state government cannot deny to the citizens of the United States of America, as identified in the video.  Which Amendment to the Constitution are these protections granted?