Chapter 5: Civil Rights and Public Policy
AP American Government
1) Define Civil Rights and give an example in US History.
a. Definition:
b. Example:
2) Describe in your own words the three key types of inequality in America today and provide a
scenario that applied to the type of discrimination.
a. Racial Discrimination:
i. Scenario:
b. Gender Discrimination:
i. Scenario:
c. Discrimination based on age, disability, sexual orientation, and other factors.
i. Scenario:
3) Based on the reading under “Conceptions of Equality”, how would you define equality?
Explain your definition and use examples to support your reasoning.
a. Definition:
b. Explanation:
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4) Define the Fourteenth Amendment and provide an example of the application of the
Amendment.
a. Definition:
b. Example:
5) Define Equal Protection of the Law and provide an example of the application of the concept.
a. Definition:
b. Example:
6) Copy the table containing the Supreme Court’s Standards for Classification Under the Equal
Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
Basis of Classification
Standard of Review
Applying the Test
7) Based on the standards that the Supreme Court has established, do you think that this is a
reasonable standard? Support your opinion with examples and evidence.
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8) Identify the three eras which delineate African Americans’ struggle for equality in America
a.
b.
c.
9) Define the Scott v Sandford (1875) Supreme Court case and explain the significance of the
case in the struggle for Civil Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Significance:
10) Define the Thirteenth Amendment and explain how it affected American society.
a. Definition:
b. Explanation:
11) Describe the aspects of Jim Crow Laws in your own words and provide an example of the
application of Jim Crow Laws.
a. Description:
b. Example:
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12) Define the Plessy v Ferguson (1896) Supreme Court case and explain the significance of the
case in the struggle for Civil Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Significance:
13) Define Brown v Board of Education (1954) Supreme Court case and explain the significance
of the case in the struggle for Civil Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Significance:
14) Define the following terms and explain the difference between them.
a. De Jure Segregation
b. De Facto Segregation
c. Difference
15) Define the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and explain the significance in relation towards the struggle
for Civil Rights
a. Definition:
b. Significance:
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16) List the 6 aspects of the Civil Rights Movement of 1964
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
17) Define suffrage and provide an example of how it applies to Civil Rights
a. Definition:
b. Example:
18) Define the Fifteenth Amendment and provide an example of how it applies to Civil Rights
a. Definition:
b. Example:
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19) Define Poll Tax and provide and example of how it applies to Civil Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Example:
20) Define White Primary and provide an example of how it applies to Civil Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Example:
21) Define the Twenty-fourth amendment and provide an explanation of how it applied to Civil
Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Explanation:
22) Define the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and provide an explanation of how it applied to Civil
Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Explanation:
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23) Explain the process or purpose of Gerrymandering and how this technique has affected voting
patterns.
a. Explanation:
b. Affect:
24) Explain the term “minority majority” and explain how it applied to the United States.
25) Describe the struggle Native Americans have faced in regards to Civil Rights. Be sure to
include when the Native Americans became citizens of the United States, the fight during the
Civil Rights Movement, and the current issues with Native American use of Tribal Lands.
26) Describe the struggle of Hispanic Americans have faced in regards to Civil Rights. Be sure to
include the percentage of Hispanics in America, the progress made by Cesar Chavez, and the
current issues with Hispanic Americans and voter turnout.
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27) Describe the struggle of Asian Americans have faced in regards to Civil Rights. Be sure to
include the restrictions they have faced throughout history.
28) Define Korematsu v United States (1944) Supreme Court Case and explain how it applied to
Civil Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Explanation:
29) Describe the struggle other groups, in particular citizens of Middle Eastern decent, have faced
in America.
30) Define the Nineteenth Amendment and explain how it applies to Civil Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Example:
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31) Define the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and explain how it applies to Civil Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Example:
32) Describe Reed v Reed (1971) Supreme Court Case and explain how it applied to Civil Rights.
a. Description:
b. Explanation:
33) Describe Craig v Boren (1976) Supreme Court Case and explain how it applied to Civil Rights.
a. Description:
b. Explanation:
34) Briefly describe four “rights” women have achieved and cite the Supreme Court Case that
established the new right for women.
a.
b.
c.
d.
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35) Define Comparable Worth and provide an example of how it applies to Civil Rights
a. Definition:
b. Example:
36) Define the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and explain how it applies to Civil Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Example:
37) Describe the struggle the Gay and Lesbian community have faced in regards to Civil Rights.
Be sure to include the restrictions they have faced throughout history.
38) Define Affirmative Action and provide an explanation or example of how it applies to Civil
Rights
a. Definition:
b. Example:
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39) Define Regents of the University of California v Bakke (1978) Supreme Court Case and
provide an explanation of how it applies to Civil Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Explanation:
40) Define Adarand Constructors v Pena (1995) Supreme Court Case and provide an explanation
of how it applies to Civil Rights.
a. Definition:
b. Explanation:
41) Describe how equality threatens liberty. Be sure to provide examples to support your answer.
42) Identify how civil rights laws increase the scope and power of government. Be sure to provide
examples to support your answer.
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