FINAL- Current Issues in Historical Context

Danbury Baptist and Jefferson

"Wall of Separation"

- found in Jefferson's reply to the Baptists.

- used by many as a further explanation of the constitutionals right to freedom of religion.

What does the Jefferson's reply illustrate?

The tension between majority and minority religions.

Civil Liberties Definition:

Freedoms given to citizens.

Civil Rights Definition:

Protections the government provides to its citizens.

Civil Liberties: "Freedom ____"

Freedom OF.

-is something you do.

You have the freedom OF expression.

Civil Rights: "Freedom ____"

Freedom FROM.

-other's cannot force their beliefs or actions on you.

They can't make you believe a certain religion.

Civil Liberties: "If taken away..."

If taken away you no longer live in a free democracy.

Civil Rights: "If taken away..."

If taken away you are "second-class citizens."

Civil Liberties: Discrimination...

Discrimination against the 1st Amendment.

Civil Rights: Discrimination...

Discrimination based on something about you (race, gender, sexuality, disability, religion).

Establishment Clause

Separation of church and state, can not show favor toward one religion.

Free Exercise Clause

Religious practice is protected under the limits of the law.

- Recognizes our right to believe and practice our faith, or not.

Example of Establishment Clause

Prayer in Schools

Example of Free Exercise Clause

Anti-Polygamy

Thin Wall

Not as much separation.

"wall"

I----I

gov church

Thick Wall

Separation of church and state.

"wall"

I-------------------------------------I

gov church

Which Wall is Preferred?

We like a thin wall when separation serves our interests and a thick wall when it does not.

Booker T. Washington

- believed black and whites should stay separate (unsuccessful).

- first African American invited to the White House

- Accommodationist ---> be patient and focus on becoming integral members of society.

W.E.B. DuBois

- believed blacks should fight for equal rights.

- Deconstructionist

Booker T. Washington: Education?

Took a gradual approach of education

- philosophy centered on practical and vocational training.

W.E.B. DuBois: Education?

Favored higher education

- "talented tenth"--> educated in the highest fields of knowledge.

- higher education is the foundation of Americans.

Booker T. Washington: Political Activism?

Did NOT agree with African American political activism.

W.E.B. DuBois: Political Activism?

Agreed with the African American political activism

- believed this was necessary

- favored protests

Both Washington and DuBois

-founded vital institutions for the black population of America:

Washington--> Tuskegee

DuBois--> NAACP

- wanted to end violence against black people by white people.

Martin Luther King Jr.

- Christian

- protested nonviolently

- wanted blacks and whites to "sit down together at the table of brotherhood."

- wants to make an agreeable definition of "equal"

- Accommodationist

Malcom X/Black Power Movement

- freedom by-any-means necessary

- black nationalist with a firm belief in black supremacy.

- believed that non-violent methods were too slow to achieve progress and signified weakness.

- Deconstructionist

Patterns Against Discrimination: Terrorism Against Black People

- Lynching

- Chain gangs

- Stereotypes

- Segregation

Patterns of Discrimination: Black Codes (Jim Crow Laws)

- Deny right to vote

- restricted pubic freedom---> under surveillance constantly

- no equality present

- job discrimination

Separation of Church and State

Def: government cannot make laws based on religion and religion can not influence the government.

- government can not establish an official religion, and churches can not make laws that violate state laws.

- brought about by Thomas Jefferson's correspondence with Danbury Baptist--> ongoing debate about government involvement in religious events.

Direct Action

Def: Non-violent and violent ways to achieve political/social change.

EX: marches, sit-ins, civil disobedience.

Mexican American- Direct Action Examples

CHICANO MOVEMENT-> advocated social and political empowerment through a cultural nationalism. (protests, walkouts, march).

MEXICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND-> a law firm born of lawyers' frustration with the discrimination that Mexican Americans faced with the legal system..

JAPENAESE-MEXICAN LABOR ASSOCIATION-> created by over 1,200 Japanese and Mexican farm workers to protest wage cuts imposed by the Western Agricultural Contacting Company (WACC) on sugar beet laborers.

Native American- Direct Action Examples

LONGEST WALK-> series of forced marches by the Navajo people to the Bosque Redondo reservation--> peaceful protest to gain sympathy for Native American causes from the American public.

TRAIL OF BROKEN TREATIES-> the demonstration brought caravans of Native American activists from the west coast to Washington, D.C. to demand redress for years of failed and destructive federal Indian policies.

AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT-> founded in 1968 to protest government policies and injustices suffered by Native American--> goals: protect the rights of Native Americans, perpetuate the spiritual and cultural independence of Native peoples, and encourage self-determination among Native Americans.

African Americans- Direct Action Examples

MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT-> African Americans refused to use the city buses in Montgomery to protest segregated seating.

LITTLE ROCK NINE-> A group of nine courageous African American students that dared to challenge racial segregation by enrolling in a all white high school 1957.

MARCH ON WASHINGTON-> peaceful protest to promote civil rights and economic equality for African Americans.

Native Americans

- cultural slavery

- forced relocation-->more exposed to climate change hazards--> impacted them religiously--> connected to their surroundings.

- consistent relocation--> sea levels rise--> relocate again.

- drastic depopulation

Mexican Americans

- historical border tensions

- the size of Mexico was cut in half and the United States was doubled.

- Mexico and America struggle with distrust to this day--> effect of Mexican-American War

- Long period of civil war--> effect of Mexican-American War.

Religious Freedom: Sunday Mail

- Hugh Wylie worked for the postal services--> throughout they should stay opened on Sundays for the church goers coming into town.

- People believed that keeping the post office open on Sunday's represented the government as supporting or accommodating religious beliefs.

- Sunday mail stopped 1850s--> telegraph

Religious Freedom: LDS Polygamy

REYNOLDS V. UNITED STATES

- polygamy is the practice in which a person can marry one or more people at the same time--> Joseph Smith revelation that they should practice plural marriage.

* you can have a belief--> not act on it.

Religious Freedom: Amish Education

WISCONSIN V> YODER (1972)

- Amish believe education past 8th grade is excessive and threatening.

- Wisconsin--> school till 16 years of age.

Religious Freedom: Prayer in Schools

ENGEL V. VITALE

- violates the Establishment clause because attendance is required for students.

- people who are not Christians argue that they do not have freedom--> because school is required.

- still discussed today