U.S. Government and Civics Unit 5: Civil Rights and Citizenship | Notes and practice

Notes

Civil War amendments

13th (1865) ended slavery; 14th (1868) defined citizenship and guaranteed due process and equal protection; 15th (1870) barred race-based denial of the vote.
Jim Crow laws, poll taxes and literacy tests undercut these rights for decades.

Ending legal segregation

***Plessy v. Ferguson* (1896) allowed "separate but equal." Brown v. Board of Education (1954)** overturned it in public schools.
Nonviolent protest and civil disobedience pushed Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Expanding suffrage

15th (race), 19th (sex), 23rd (D.C. electors), 24th (no poll taxes), 26th (age 18).

Equal protection today

Strict scrutiny (race), intermediate (sex), rational basis (most other laws).
Title IX, the ADA, Obergefell and Students for Fair Admissions extended or defined equal protection.

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth (14th Amendment) or naturalization. Duties: obey laws, pay taxes, jury service, Selective Service registration. Responsibilities: vote, stay informed, volunteer.

Topics in this unit

Each topic has its own short notes and practice.

Practice

Which case overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine in public schools?

Which act banned literacy tests and sent federal officials to oversee voter registration in parts of the South?

A state law sets a lower minimum age for women to buy a product than for men. Courts would review it with:

Which amendment gave residents of Washington, D.C., electoral votes for president?

An immigrant has been a lawful permanent resident for five years, speaks English and passes the civics test. Which step remains to become a citizen?

Which statement about civil rights and civil liberties is accurate?

Free response

Write your answer first, then open the scoring guide.

Free-response question

The struggle for civil rights in the United States has involved courts, Congress and ordinary citizens.

(a) Explain how Brown v. Board of Education changed the meaning of the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause.

Show the answer and scoring guide

In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the Court said segregation was allowed if facilities were "separate but equal." In Brown (1954), the Court unanimously ruled that separate public schools are inherently unequal, so segregation in public education violates equal protection.

Check off the points you earned:

1 point: describes the Plessy doctrine Brown overturned
1 point: explains Brown's ruling on equal protection

(b) Describe ONE way citizens pushed for civil rights outside the courts.

Show the answer and scoring guide

In the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955 to 1956), Black residents refused to ride segregated city buses for more than a year. The economic pressure and national attention helped lead to the end of bus segregation in Montgomery.

Check off the points you earned:

1 point: identifies an accurate method or event
1 point: explains how it applied pressure for change

(c) Explain how Congress used its powers to protect voting rights in the 1960s.

Show the answer and scoring guide

Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, using its power to enforce the 15th Amendment. The act banned literacy tests and allowed federal oversight of voter registration in places with a history of discrimination, which sharply increased Black voter registration.

Check off the points you earned:

1 point: identifies the Voting Rights Act or 24th Amendment
1 point: explains an accurate effect or provision