Chapter 5 - Civil Rights

Question 1

What are civil rights?

Answer 1

Civil rights are guarantees by the government to ensure individuals are treated equally, particularly for historically marginalized groups. They are protected under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution​​.

Question 2

What is the difference between civil rights and civil liberties?

Answer 2

Civil rights ensure equal treatment and prevent discrimination, while civil liberties limit government power to protect individual freedoms, such as free speech or religion​​.

Question 3

What are the key provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment?

Answer 3

The Fourteenth Amendment includes the equal protection clause, requiring states to treat all residents equally under the law​​.

Question 4

What was the impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Answer 4

It outlawed segregation in public places, banned employment discrimination, and created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to monitor these provisions​.

Question 5

What landmark case overturned “separate but equal” and ended segregation in public schools?

Answer 5

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, declaring segregation in public schools unconstitutional​.

Question 6

What is strict scrutiny?

Answer 6

It is the highest standard of judicial review applied to cases involving discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or religion. The government must prove a compelling interest and use the least restrictive means to achieve its goal​​.

Question 7

What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

Answer 7

It eliminated barriers like literacy tests used to suppress African American voting rights and required federal oversight in states with a history of voter discrimination​.

Question 8

Grandfather Clause

Answer 8

Question 9

Plessy Vs. Fergueson

Answer 9

Question 10

Reconstruction

Answer 10