Chapter 6: Civil Rights

Civil rights

Personal rights of people to be treated without unconstitutional differences

Separate-but-equal doctrine

Doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson. Blacks constitutionally could be in separate facilities than whites

Suspect classification

Laws classifying people by race or ethnicity are subject to strict scrutiny

Strict scrutiny

Standard by which suspect classifications are judged

De jure segregation

Segregation by law

De facto segregation

Segregation by practice, not stemming from laws

Civil disobedience

Opposing unjust laws by peacefully disobeying them

Equality of results

Making certain that people achieve the same result

Equality of opportunity

Giving people an equal chance to succeed

Affirmative action

Laws that require an institution to increase the number of minorities in its membership

Reverse discrimination

Using race or sex to give preferential treatment

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery

14th Amendment

All persons born in the U.S. are citizens & are guaranteed equal protection of the laws - gave Black Americans citizenship

15th Amendement

No denying the right to vote based on race - African Americans could vote

19th Amendment

No denying the right to vote based on gender - women could vote

24th Amendment

Eliminated the poll taxes to vote in national elections

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibited discrimination in public places, provided for the integration of schools and other public facilities, and made employment discrimination illegal

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting

Equal Rights Amendment

The rights guaranteed by the Constitution apply equally to all persons regardless of their sex

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Banned discrimination against the disabled in employment and mandated easy access to all public and commercial buildings