Historical Context Final

What is the difference between civil rights and civil liberties?

Civil liberties- freedoms given to citizens by the government; "freedom of"

Civil rights- protections from the government and are laws that provide for citizens; "freedom from"

If civil rights are taken away, what are you called?

a second-class citizen

Where are civil liberties rooted in the American political system?

in our amendments giving citizens certain freedoms for each amendment

How do civil liberties serve as a foundation for civil rights?

they help them stay protected from the government

How did Mexican-Americans fight for civil rights?

Cesar Chavez wanted the catholic church to take responsibility for helping them get better/equal wages

What term did Mexican-Americans choose as an identifying political term?

chicanos

How did Native-Americans fight for civil rights?

the longest walk- 8 days of protests and demonstrations

the American government violated treaties that guaranteed Native American rights and recognized the sovereignty of Native American nations

What are the different perspectives between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois?

Booker T. Washington: African Americans should just accept the social injustice for the time being and that they should focus more on their economic status before trying to fix their social position and the issue of racism. He believed that this would increase the respect for black people and eventually fix the issue all on its own

W.E.B. Dubois: strongly advocated for political and social equality; wanted immediate action, change, and for people to fight for their rights

What are the different perspectives between Martin Luther King Jr. and the Black Power movement?

Martin Luther King Jr.: nonviolent and Christian approach; heavily influenced by the nonviolent philosophy of Gandhi

Black Power movement: focuses on self-reliance and racial pride; emphasized Black self-respect, self-reliance, and self-defence; not opposed to using violence to make their point

What are vague examples of direct action?

events like demonstrations, marches, speeches

What are specific examples of direct action?

Greensboro lunch sit-ins, 1963 march on Washington, 1968 LA mexican-american walkouts

What are the two clauses in the first amendment that deal with freedom of religion?

Establishment clause and Free Exercise Clause

What is the Free Exercise Clause?

"Or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" Religious practice is protected under the law

What is the Establishment clause?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." Government can not show favor toward one religion over another

What did the Danbury Baptists do?

Wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson discussing how Connecticut's official state church was treating them unfairly because of their religion. They were concerned that their religious rights weren't being protected.

What did Thomas Jefferson do?

He wrote a letter in response to the Danbury Baptists that discussed the first amendment in relation to their case. He used the term "wall of separation between church and state" to make it clear that the federal government shouldn't interfere with religious liberty.

How is the interaction between the Danbury Baptists and Thomas Jefferson illustrative for the topic of religious freedom?

it shows the opinions of the people and how the government responds. It captures the idea of the separation of church and state in American politics.

Describe the Reynolds v. US case.

the court ruled that polygamy, regardless of religious beliefs, violated the law and threatened police powers, so in this case the Govt. desires overruled the desire for personal religious freedom

Describe the Wisconsin v. Yoder case.

the court ruled that the Government's desire for educated children could only extend so far, and after a certain point the family's religious beliefs and desires were to be held higher than the states desire for educated citizens

Describe the Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby (2014) case.

the Court ruled that for-profit corporations could refuse to provide contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act if it violated the owners' religious beliefs. The decision was based on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Describe the Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (2018) case.

the Court ruled in favor of a bakery owner who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, citing religious objections. The decision was based on the claim that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission displayed bias against the baker's religious beliefs.

Describe the Town of Greece vs. Galloway (2014) case.

the Court upheld the practice of opening town board meetings with sectarian prayer, ruling that it did not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Describe the Carson vs. Makin (2022) case.

the Court ruled that Maine's exclusion of religious schools from its tuition assistance program violated the First Amendment. The decision found that denying funds to students attending religious schools discriminated against religious exercise.