Chapter 16: Civil Rights: The Struggle for Political Equality Flashcards
What was the purpose of states implementing poll taxes and literacy tests for elections?
To prevent the undereducated and poor Black communities from voting.
What was the grandfather clause and who did it help?
Whites who failed the literacy test could still vote if they had an ancestor who voted before 1867.
What were the white primaries?
In the one-party South where only the Democratic primaries mattered, primary elections open only to Whites.
What is strict scrutiny?
The assumption that actions by elected bodies or officials violate the Constitution.
What is suspect classification and how was it used?
The invidious, arbitrary, or irrational designation of a group for special treatment by government, whether positive or negative; historically, used in laws to discriminate against visible minorities without the power to protect themselves.
Contrast de jure discrimination and de facto discrimination.
De jure discrimination is unequal treatment based on laws and regulations, while de facto discrimination is by private individuals, groups, and organizations.
What did the 1965 Voting Rights Act do?
Banned discrimination in voting across the U.S.
What did the preclearance provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act say?
States with a long history of denying Black people suffrage are required to submit any changes in their election laws to the Justic Department for approval.
What was the purpose of affirmative action programs?
Compensate for past wrongdoings by favoring racial minorities and women when hiring/enrolling in jobs/colleges to increase diversity.
What is intermediate scrutiny?
The Supreme Court will allow gender classifications in laws if they are substantially related to an important government objective.
Falls between ordinary and strict scrutiny.
Define civil rights.
Guarantees of equal treatment by government officials regarding political rights, the judicial system, and public programs.
