AO GOV - CHAPTER 9

AP GOV — CHAPTER 9: CIVIL RIGHTS

9.1 — Civil Rights vs. Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Civil rights = protections against discrimination and unequal treatment.

protections from individuals

They protect people from discrimination based on things such as:

• Race

• National origin

• Religion

• Sex

• Disability

• Other characteristics

Main idea:
The government needs to act to protect civil rights.

Civil Liberties

Civil liberties = protections of me from the government., protect me form my government

Civil rights = protection for individuals from discriminations (I can’t be treated different because of who I am)

Easy way to remember:

• Civil rights → government acts to protect equality

• Civil liberties → government cannot unfairly interfere with your freedoms
  
  

🇺🇸 Emancipation Proclamation — 1863

What was it?

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

It declared that enslaved people in the areas covered by the proclamation were “henceforth and forever free.”

Why was it important?

• It was an important step toward ending slavery.

• It changed the purpose and meaning of the Civil War by making emancipation a major federal war policy.

• It helped establish the federal government's role in ending slavery.

• It came after the Dred Scott decision (1857), which had denied citizenship to Black Americans.

Important connection to the 13th Amendment

The Emancipation Proclamation did not itself permanently abolish slavery throughout the entire United States.

The 13th Amendment (1865) later prohibited slavery.

🧠 AP Gov connection:

Dred Scott (1857)
→ Black Americans denied citizenship

⬇

Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
→ Declared enslaved people in covered areas free

⬇

13th Amendment (1865)
→ Prohibited slavery

⭐ Remember:

Emancipation Proclamation = Lincoln + Civil War + freedom for enslaved people in covered areas

13th Amendment = constitutional abolition of slavery

Disability Rights

For a long time, public buildings and facilities often did not accommodate people with physical disabilities.

People with disabilities organized rallies and sit-ins to demand equal treatment.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act — 1973

• First federal law to prohibit discrimination against Americans with disabilities.

• Helped establish the federal government's responsibility to protect disability rights.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — 1990( E.G of unfunded mandate)

A major civil rights law protecting people with disabilities.

It protects against discrimination in:

• Employment

• Public transportation

• Public services

• Government programs

• Commercial and public life

Why ADA matters:

It made disability discrimination a major federal civil rights issue and required greater access and equality.

9.2 — The Fight Against Segregation

Dred Scott v. Sandford — 1857

What happened?

The Supreme Court ruled that:

• Formerly enslaved people and their descendants were not U.S. citizens.

• This was true even if they lived in a free state or territory.

Why it matters:

The decision denied Black Americans basic rights and citizenship.

It happened shortly before the Civil War.

Emancipation Proclamation

During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

It declared enslaved people in the areas covered by the proclamation free.

Remember:

Dred Scott → denied citizenship

Emancipation Proclamation → declared enslaved people free

Post-Civil War Amendments

After the Civil War, the Constitution was changed to provide greater civil rights protections for Black Americans.

13th Amendment — 1865

Ended/prohibited slavery.

Think:

13 = slavery ends

14th Amendment — 1868

Granted citizenship to people born in the United States.

It also included:

Due Process Clause

The government must follow fair legal procedures before taking away a person's rights.

Equal Protection Clause

The government must provide equal protection under the law.

This clause became extremely important in later civil rights cases.

It has been used to challenge discrimination based on:

• Race

• National origin

• Religion

• Gender

• Other characteristics

Think:

14 = citizenship + equal protection

15th Amendment — 1870

Granted Black men the right to vote.

Think:

15 = voting rights for Black men

Black Codes

After the Civil War, Southern states created Black Codes.

Purpose:

To restrict:

• Social rights

• Economic opportunities

• Freedom of formerly enslaved people

The Black Codes were part of the backlash against Reconstruction and the new constitutional protections.

Jim Crow Laws

Southern states later created Jim Crow laws.

Jim Crow laws

Laws that enforced racial segregation.

Segregation existed in:

• Transportation

• Education

• Businesses

• Entertainment

• Public facilities

Southern states also used methods of voter suppression, including:

• Poll taxes

• Literacy tests

• Economic intimidation

Important:

Jim Crow laws attempted to undermine the protections created during Reconstruction.

Plessy v. Ferguson — 1896 ⭐

This is a VERY IMPORTANT Supreme Court case.

What happened?

Homer Plessy was considered Black under Louisiana law even though he was seven-eighths Caucasian.

He was arrested for sitting in a railroad car designated for white passengers.

Louisiana had a law requiring separate railroad cars for white and Black passengers.

Supreme Court decision:

The Court upheld the law.

The Court said segregation was constitutional as long as facilities were:

"Separate but equal"

Why is Plessy important?

It allowed racial segregation to continue for approximately 60 years.

It also supported the legal system of Jim Crow segregation.

AP Gov connection:

Plessy → "separate but equal" → segregation allowed

De Jure vs. De Facto Segregation

De Jure Segregation

De jure = segregation by law.

It happens when laws or government policies require racial separation.

Example:

Jim Crow laws requiring separate schools or railroad cars.

Memory trick:

Jure → Jurisdiction/law

De Facto Segregation

De facto = segregation that happens in practice, not because a law directly requires it.

It can result from:

• Residential patterns

• Where people choose to live

• Economic conditions

• Other social factors

Example:

White flight to suburbs contributed to residential segregation.

Memory trick:

De facto → "in fact"

Thurgood Marshall & the NAACP ⭐

Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall was an important civil rights lawyer who worked with the NAACP.

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

The NAACP challenged de jure segregation through lawsuits.

Their strategy:

They wanted the Supreme Court to rule that segregated education violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.

Their larger goal was to weaken and eventually overturn the reasoning behind Plessy v. Ferguson.

Important:

Marshall + NAACP → lawsuits against segregation

Brown v. Board of Education — 1954 ⭐⭐⭐

This is one of the most important Supreme Court cases in AP Gov.

Main issue:

Racial segregation in public schools.

Supreme Court decision:

The Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

This challenged the idea that schools could be "separate but equal."

Why it mattered:

It overturned the legal foundation of segregation in public education and became a major turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.

Compare:

EASY MEMORY:

Plessy = segregation allowed

Brown = segregation in public schools NOT allowed

Southern Resistance

Even after Brown, many Southern states resisted integration.

The Supreme Court's timeline for implementing Brown was vague.

The Court told schools to proceed with:

"all deliberate speed."

Many Southern states delayed compliance.

Important connection:

When de jure segregation became unconstitutional, de facto segregation continued.

9.3 — The Civil Rights Movement

Brown did not immediately end discrimination.

Other branches of government were slow to act.

Civil rights activists organized protests and movements to pressure the government.

Social Movement

A large group of citizens organizing for political change.

Civil Disobedience

The intentional refusal to obey a law in order to call attention to its injustice.

Civil Rights Act of 1957

The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was the first major piece of civil rights legislation passed since Reconstruction.

It showed that the federal government was beginning to become more involved in protecting civil rights.

Montgomery Bus Boycott — 1955–1956 ⭐

Rosa Parks

In December 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested after refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

This helped spark the:

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Black residents stopped using Montgomery's bus system.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became the leader of the boycott.

The boycott lasted more than a year.

Result:

In 1956, the Supreme Court declared Montgomery's bus segregation law unconstitutional.

Why it matters:

The boycott demonstrated the power of:

• Organized citizens

• Economic pressure

• Nonviolent protest

• Civil disobedience

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ⭐

King was one of the founders and leaders of the:

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

The SCLC worked to:

• Challenge racial segregation

• Advocate for civil rights

• Organize protests and marches

King:

• Led marches

• Organized protests

• Was arrested multiple times

• Faced threats of violence

"Letter from a Birmingham Jail" ⭐

King wrote this letter after white clergymen criticized his protests and encouraged him to take a more moderate approach. racial expression violates moral law

King's argument:

People have a right to challenge unjust laws.

He argued that waiting for change was not acceptable when people were suffering under injustice.

He also wanted white Americans, especially white moderates, to confront the reality of racial segregation.

AP Gov connection:

King → civil disobedience → challenging unjust laws

Other Civil Rights Protest Strategies

Sit-ins

Protesters peacefully occupied segregated businesses or facilities.

Example:

Woolworth's sit-in in Greensboro, North Carolina

SNCC

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

SNCC organized protests and helped young people participate in the Civil Rights Movement.

Freedom Riders

Freedom Riders challenged segregation in interstate transportation.

They faced:

• Violence

• Threats

• Arrests

The violence was shown on television, increasing pressure on the federal government to act.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 ⭐⭐⭐

This was a major civil rights law.

It:

• Outlawed racial segregation in public places.

• Authorized the attorney general to sue school districts that failed to desegregate.

EASY MEMORY:

Civil Rights Act 1964 → segregation/discrimination

Voting Rights Act of 1965 ⭐⭐⭐

The Voting Rights Act targeted discrimination in voting.

It:

• Outlawed literacy tests.

• Allowed the Justice Department to send federal officers to register voters in areas with a history of voter discrimination.

EASY MEMORY:

Voting Rights Act 1965 → voting discrimination

Shelby v. Holder — 2013 ⭐

This Supreme Court case dealt with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Your PowerPoint specifically identifies this case as part of the development of voting rights protections.

Know the connection:

Voting Rights Act of 1965 → federal protection against voting discrimination

Shelby v. Holder (2013) → Supreme Court decision involving the Voting Rights Act

9.4 — Affirmative Action

What is Affirmative Action?

Affirmative action = policies designed to address the effects of previous discrimination by giving special consideration to characteristics such as:

• Race

• Ethnicity

• Gender

• Disability

• Age

Colleges and universities have used affirmative action to increase enrollment of racial and ethnic minorities.

Supporters argue:

Affirmative action:

• Helps provide equal access.

• Addresses the effects of past discrimination.

Opponents argue:

It can amount to "reverse discrimination" and can make minorities feel their achievements are viewed differently.

Important Affirmative Action Cases ⭐⭐⭐

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke — 1978

Allan Bakke

Bakke was a white applicant who sued UC-Davis after being denied admission to medical school.

Supreme Court:

• Struck down racial quota systems.

• But allowed affirmative action to continue in certain forms.

Remember:

Bakke = quotas unconstitutional, but affirmative action allowed

Gratz v. Bollinger — 2003

The University of Michigan used a points system that gave some points based on race or ethnicity.

Supreme Court:

The Court ruled that the points system was unconstitutional.

Remember:

Gratz = automatic racial points system unconstitutional

Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin — 2016

Supreme Court:

The Court upheld the consideration of race in college admissions.

Remember:

Fisher = race could still be considered in admissions

Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard / UNC — 2023 ⭐⭐⭐

The organization Students for Fair Admissions challenged the use of race in college admissions.

Supreme Court:

The Court ruled that race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Important:

This was a major change from earlier affirmative-action cases.

Case progression:

Bakke (1978)
⬇
Quotas struck down, affirmative action allowed

Gratz (2003)
⬇
Point system struck down

Fisher (2016)
⬇
Race could still be considered

Students for Fair Admissions (2023)
⬇
Race-based admissions programs challenged under Equal Protection Clause

9.5 — Women's Rights

First Wave

The first wave of the women's rights movement occurred primarily during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Main goal:

Political equality, especially voting rights.

19th Amendment — 1920 ⭐

Granted women the right to vote.

Remember:

19th Amendment = women's suffrage

Second Wave

The second wave began during the 1960s.

It focused on:

• Workplace inequality

• Inequality at home

• Sexual harassment

• Violence against women

• Legal equality

Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act also prohibited discrimination in the workplace.

This helped expand the fight for women's equality beyond voting rights.

National Organization for Women (NOW)

NOW

National Organization for Women

Created to pressure the federal government to enforce federal anti-discrimination laws.

Remember:

NOW → women's equality + enforcement of anti-discrimination laws

Title IX — 1972 ⭐⭐⭐

Part of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Title IX:

Prohibits sex discrimination in schools receiving federal financial assistance.

One of its most visible effects has been in:

Women's athletics

It helped expand opportunities for girls and women in school sports.

EASY MEMORY:

Title IX = no sex discrimination in federally funded education

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

The ERA was a proposed constitutional amendment.

Main idea:

Rights under the law should not be denied because of sex.

It passed the House of Representatives in 1971.

However, it failed to receive the required approval from three-fourths of the states.

Important:

The ERA did not become part of the Constitution.

Even though it failed, the debate increased awareness of women's rights issues.

Violence Against Women Act — 1994

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA):

• Strengthened penalties for domestic violence.

• Created programs for victims.

• Addressed sexual assault and stalking.

• Provided funding for rape kits.

• Supported protective orders.

• Provided training for police, prosecutors, and judges.

2023 Reauthorization

Added protections involving:

• Online abuse and harassment

• Indigenous women

• Underserved communities

Gender Discrimination & Supreme Court Standards

Strict Scrutiny

The government must show a compelling interest to justify unequal treatment of men and women.

This is the highest level of judicial scrutiny.

Rational-Basis Standard

The government must show that different treatment is reasonable and not arbitrary.

Important:

Your slides emphasize that many forms of differential treatment based on gender or race are unconstitutional.

Civil Rights for Other Groups

Native Americans

Native Americans fought to preserve:

• Rights

• Traditions

• Culture

Alcatraz — 1969

Native American activists occupied Alcatraz to bring attention to grievances against the federal government.

Boarding Schools

In 2022, the federal government acknowledged deaths and mistreatment of Native American children in boarding schools.

Latino Americans

Latino rights activists have challenged discrimination involving:

• Immigration

• Education

• Labor policies

Asian Americans

Asian Americans have experienced discrimination throughout U.S. history.

Chinese Exclusion Act — 1882

Restricted Chinese immigration.

Executive Order 9066

During World War II, it resulted in the relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps.

LGBTQ+ Rights

LGBTQ+ groups have organized to secure civil rights.

Bostock v. Clayton County — 2020 ⭐

The Supreme Court ruled that employers could not fire employees because of their:

• Sexual orientation

• Transgender identity

Why important?

It expanded the interpretation of federal employment protections to cover LGBTQ+ workers.

⭐ AP GOV MUST-KNOW LIST

If you don't have time to memorize everything, know these really well:

Amendments

Supreme Court Cases

Laws

• Section 504 — 1973 → disability rights

• ADA — 1990 → disability discrimination

• Civil Rights Act — 1964 → racial segregation/discrimination

• Voting Rights Act — 1965 → voting discrimination

• Title IX — 1972 → sex discrimination in federally funded education

• VAWA — 1994 → protections/resources for victims of violence

🧠 SUPER EASY TIMELINE

1857 → Dred Scott
⬇
1865 → 13th Amendment
⬇
1868 → 14th Amendment
⬇
1870 → 15th Amendment
⬇
1896 → Plessy v. Ferguson
⬇
1920 → 19th Amendment
⬇
1954 → Brown v. Board
⬇
1955–56 → Montgomery Bus Boycott
⬇
1964 → Civil Rights Act
⬇
1965 → Voting Rights Act
⬇
1972 → Title IX
⬇
1973 → Section 504
⬇
1978 → Bakke
⬇
1990 → ADA
⬇
2003 → Gratz
⬇
2013 → Shelby v. Holder
⬇
2016 → Fisher
⬇
2020 → Bostock
⬇
2023 → Students for Fair Admissions

🔥 Biggest AP Gov connections

14th Amendment → Equal Protection Clause → Civil Rights

Plessy → "separate but equal"

Brown → overturns school segregation

Civil Rights Movement → social movements + civil disobedience

Civil Rights Act → discrimination/segregation

Voting Rights Act → voting discrimination

Affirmative Action → Equal Protection Clause

Title IX → gender equality in education

Bostock → LGBTQ+ employment rights