Segregation in the United States
Following the end of slavery, African- Americans still had to fight for equal rights.
The Southern states used the black codes, local laws that limited former slaves' ability to find work and freedom to move off the plantations. In response, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of
1866 that made African Americans citizens. This was followed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, which reaffirmed that
African Americans are citizens, entitled to "equal protection," and have the right to vote.
Jim Crow laws were Southern statutes that effectively segregated people by race
Under the Jim Crow laws, separate facilities for black and white train and streetcar passengers, separate schools, and separate entrances and reception areas in public buildings were built in the South. Separate restrooms and drinking fountains, as well as special visiting hours for African
Americans at museums, became fixtures of Southern life.
Because this separation based on race was backed by law, it was called de jure segregation.
Separate but Equal
In 1896, Homer Plessy challenged segregation by riding in a
"white only" railroad car. The case went to the Supreme Court, which ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that such segregation was constitutional as long as the facilities were equal. The court's
"separate but equal" doctrine was soon applied to schools as well as theaters, beaches, and sports facilities. However, separate was hardly equal. Black schools received discarded textbooks and lab equipment from white schools, and the buildings themselves were dilapidated. All facilities that were for African Americans to use were inferior.
Eliminating segregation in the United States has proved to be a long and difficult process. Presidential actions and court decisions were important early steps. While segregation codified in law no longer exists, de facto segregation based on income and housing patterns continues
Brown v. the Board of Education
In 1950, Oliver Brown sued in federal court over the segregation of the school system of Topeka, Kansas.
The Supreme Court's 1954 decision in the case, which held that separate schools were inherently unequal, was important for several reasons. Topeka was not a Southern city; the Court hoped to limit backlash in the South by using a case outside the region.
Brown v. the Board of Education
The Court ordered the desegregation of the schools, not their integration. Although the terms are often used synonymously, they actually have different meanings. Desegregation refers to eliminating laws that call for segregation; integration means actively designing government policies to mix different races. The Brown decision did not call for integration but demanded desegregation "with all deliberate speed."
Civil Rights Legislation
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which survived several challenges in the courts, prohibited employment discrimination by private businesses connected with interstate commerce, authorized the attorney general to begin school desegregation lawsuits if complaints were filed, and cut off federal funding for any program that practiced discrimination
The 1965 Voting Rights Act eliminated literacy tests and, thus, significantly increased the number of African Americans and other minorities who could vote.
Discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex was banned in all forms of housing through the Civil Rights
Act of 1968.
This act has not had as great an impact as other legislation because the ability to buy or rent housing is so directly connected to income level
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to a broad range of programs that are intended to correct for the past effects of discrimination through preferential recruitment and treatment, numerical goals, quotas, or set asides in employment. This law gave blacks and women a preference over a firm owned by a white male. Affirmative action traditionally goes beyond equality of opportunity, long the goal of the civil rights movement, and seeks equality of outcome.
Reverse Discrimination
In Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), the Supreme Court ruled in a controversial 5-4 decision that setting aside a specific number of places in a medical school class for minorities violated both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fourteenth Amendment. It ordered that a white applicant initially denied admission be admitted so as to avoid reverse discrimination.
Women
Until the 1860s, many states restricted or prevented women from owning property. A woman's right to vote was not constitutionally protected until the ratification of the
Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. It was not until the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 included sex on the list of characteristics that could not be discriminated against (race, age, religion, and national origin are the others) that the door was opened for a concerted campaign against gender discrimination.
Women
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an important force in the women's movement. It has campaigned successfully for equal employment and pay and against sexual harassment. Although the Equal Rights Amendment
(ERA) failed ratification, the 1972 amendments to the Civil
Rights Act denied federal funding to public and private institutions that discriminated against women and required equality of sports programs for men and women in schools
What is segregation? Desegregation? Integration?
Discrimination?
-What are the differences?
Where was segregation most common?
What were Jim Crow Laws?
What is the significance of the Plessy v. Fergusson case?
What did the Brown V. Board of Education case do?
What groups have been discriminated against in the US?
What was the significance of
Regents of the
University of California v. Bakke (1978)?
What was the Voting Rights Act ?
What is de facto segregation?
What is de jure segregation?
-What are the differences?
What were the Black Codes?
Terms to Know and Apply
Amendments dealing with slavery (13, 14, 15)
Amendments dealing with suffrage (15th, 19th, 23rd,
24th, 26th)
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1968
Equal Rights Amendment
Title IX
National Organization for Women
Affirmative Action
Reverse Discrimination
What are political parties
What are political parties
Political parties can form from factions.
Washington warned against factions tearing the country apart.
Madison wrote in
Federalist 10 that they were bound to develop.
Political Party History
st
In 1828 the modern
Democrat party began and elected
Andrew
Jackson as their first
President .
Democrats
Whigs
Republicans
In 1853 the
Republican Party grew from the abolition movement.
The abolition movement was started to end slavery
.
In 1860
Abraham
Lincoln became the 1 st
Republican president. He ran on the issue to end slavery.
Third Parties
Over time Third
Parties have formed in an effort to challenge the Dems and
Repubs
Some 3 rd Parties
Anti-Masonic
Constitutional, Southern Democrats
Populist
Progressive
States’ Rights
Socialist-Labor
American Independent
Libertarian
Green
Communist
Structure
National Committee
State Central Committee
County Committees
Precinct Level
Party Workers
Political Parties
Political Parties
A multi-party system brings a broader and more diverse electorate but it also causes instability.
A one-party system is the same as a noparty system.
Political Parties
Democrat electorate usually consists of
Catholics, Jews, African-Americans, high-school graduates single, younger.
Republican electorate usually consists of
Protestants, business people, college graduates, married, older.
Political Action Committees
Political Action
Committees, commonly called
"PACs," are organizations dedicated to raising and spending money to either elect or defeat political candidates.
Political Action Committees
Most PACs are directly connected to specific corporations, labor groups, or recognized political parties.
Political Action Committees
Examples of these
PACs include
Microsoft (a corporate PAC) and the Teamsters
Union (organized labor).
Political Action Committees
PACs solicit contributions from employees or members and make contributions in the
PACs name to candidates or political parties.
Political Action Committees
Non-connected or ideological PACs raise and spend money to elect candidates -- from any political party -who support their ideals or agendas
Political Action Committees
Non-connected
PACs are made up of individuals or groups of U.S. citizens, not connected to a corporation, a labor party or a political party .
Political Action Committees
Examples of nonconnected PACs include the National Rifle
Association (gun owner rights) and Emily's List
(abortion, pro-choice). A non-connected PAC can solicit contributions from the general public of U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Political Action Committees
A third type of
PAC, called
"leadership PACs" are formed by politicians to help fund the campaigns of other politicians.
Political Action Committees
Politicians often create leadership
PACs in an effort to prove their party loyalty or to further their goal of being elected to a higher office.
Political Action Committees
Under federal election laws,
PACs can legally contribute only $5,000 to a candidate committee per election
(primary, general or special). They can also give up to $15,000 annually to any national party committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC.
Lobbyists
Someone who tries to persuade legislators to vote for bills that the lobbyists favor
Lobbyists
A lobbyist is one who is professionally employed to lobby on behalf of clients or who advises clients on how to lobby on their own behalf.
What Are Interest Groups?
An interest group (special interests) is an organization of people with similar policy goals that try to influence the political process to try to achieve those goals.
Interest groups try to influence every branch and every level of government .
The Roots and Development of American Interest Groups
What Do Interest Groups Do?
The most common and effective interest group technique is lobbying or seeking to influence and persuade others to support a group's position.
What Do Interest Groups Do?
Lobbyists are hired by a college or university, businesses, foreign countries, trade associations, and anyone else wanting their voice heard on policy matters.
Important Points to Think About
Interest Groups:
Promote interest in public affairs
Provide useful information
Serve as watchdogs
Represent the interest of citizens
Interest Groups and PACS
The Media and Public Opinion
Public opinion is a dominant force in American politics and especially so during the long electoral process. If a presidential candidate fails to hit it off with the media at the first primary, then that presidential candidate is likely to have a political mountain to climb up to the November election.
National television has ensured that candidates pitch every word that they say with great care. What a candidate does, what a candidate will do on a campaign trail and what he says is usually determined by the availability of television coverage. It is the primary purpose of a campaign manager to ensure that a candidate gets this. Speeches have now become orientated to television and 30 seconds sound bites have become the norm rather than a classic speech. Short, sharp quotes are far more media friendly than a long speech on financial reform, welfare reform etc
Which of these describes the political party system in the U.S.: one party system, two party system, or multiparty system?
Which of the images shown above are examples of the "mass media"?
What election is conducted with the Electoral College system?
Political process: political parties two-party system third parties campaign platform national conventions (Republican, Democratic) role of media special interest groups and associations
PACs
Lobbyists
Political spectrum reactionary conservative moderate liberal radical hawk dove
Propaganda
The Band Wagon Device
The Testimonial Device
The Transfer Device
The Name Calling Device
The Glittering Generalities Device
The Plain Folks Device
The Card Stacking Device
Bandwagon
Bandwagon
Bandwagon
Bandwagon
The main theme is very recognizable:
"everybody's doing it!" The technique here is one of the revival show. Fill a hall or stadium, march a million men in a parade. Use pomp and circumstance, music, flags, colors, movement, all the dramatic arts. The user of the Band Wagon device appeals to the desire common to most of us, to follow the crowd.
Testimonial or Endorsement
Testimonial or Endorsement
Testimonial
Transfer or Association
Transfer or Association
Good feelings, looks, or ideas transferred to the person for whom the product is intended.
Transfer or Association
In the Transfer device, symbols are constantly used. The cross represents the Christian church.
The flag represents the nation. Transfer uses symbols to stir emotions. At their very sight, in an instance, we can be aroused to a myriad of complex of feelings with respect to a subject.
The Transfer device can be used for and against causes and ideas.
Transfer or Association
Name Calling
Name Calling
Name Calling
The propagandist appeals to hate and fear by giving "bad names" to groups, nations, races, practices, beliefs and ideals they would have us condemn and reject. Name calling can also accomplished by implication with a "bad name".
Such as the headline: "so and so visits communist China, ignores human rights issue."
Glittering Generalities
Glittering Generalities
Glittering Generalities
Plain Folks
Plain Folks
Plain Folks
Used by politicians, business leaders, ministers and etc. to win our confidence by appearing to be people like ourselves--"just plain folks among the neighbors." This is especially true during election years. Politicians kiss babies, eat apple pie, wave the flag (transfer device) go to picnics; they show up at places or do things they would never usually do just to show that they are just like us.
Plain Folks
Card Stacking
Attempts to persuade people to support a candidate or issue by making the positive characteristics far outweigh the negative. It can also be used to make the negative far outweigh the positive for opposing sides.
Card Stacking
Other Techniques
Misery - Appeals to pity or sympathy to gain support.
Fancy Words - Use of elegant or technical sounding words to persuade and camouflage the truth.
Word Magic - Uses emotional or catchy words to create a positive feeling and makes it easier to remember the product or idea.
Other Techniques
Black and White - Presents an issue as having only two choices. If you don’t like one choice, you must choose the other
Simplicity and Repetition - Keep it simple and say it often enough so people will remember it and believe it
Identify these propaganda techniques
“Voters deserve a candidate who knows they don’t have a lot of money to spare for fancy government programs. I’ve worked hard all my life. I promise to handle the city’s money as if it were my own.”
Glittering Generalities
“Don’t be left out, most people agree with us, you should too.” Which technique is being used?
Bandwagon
“I’m going to Disney World after the Super Bowl says,
Drew Brees” Which technique is being used?
Testimonial or Endorsement
. “My opponent promises to cut the city budget to increase police protection and to open new fire stations all at the same time. Ladies and gentlemen, my opponent is either a magician or a fool.”
Name Calling
A candidate shoots a commercial and shows him helping to build a house.
Which technique is being used?
Plain Folks
A lawyer makes a commercial standing by famous
New Orleans landmarks. Which technique is being used?
Transfer or association
Techniques of Persuasion/Propaganda: card stacking bandwagon testimonial/endorsement plain folks transfer/association glittering generalities name calling
Suffrage; the right to vote, is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution until the 15 th Amendment.
The Fifteenth Amendment ( Amendment XV ) to the
United States Constitution prohibits each government in the United States from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Ratified on February 3, 1870
Since the 15th Amendment, who can vote is the subject of other Amendments
19th Amendment - The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. (1920)
24th Amendment - The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or
Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or any State by reason of people pay poll tax or other tax. (1964)
26th Amendment - The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age. (1971)
The Twenty-third Amendment ( Amendment XXIII ) to the
United States Constitution permits citizens in the District of
Columbia to vote for Electors for President and Vice President.
The amendment was proposed by Congress on June 17, 1960, and ratified by the states on March 29, 1961. The first
Presidential election in which it was in effect was the presidential election of 1964.
An organized, planned action for the purpose of getting a candidate elected. It may include campaign manager(s), political consultants, fund raisers, speech writers and speeches, press secretary, policy experts, lawyers and accountants, researchers, travel planner, events coordinator, image building, etc. It is how the candidate will become known to voters.
A platform is the candidate’s or political party’s declaration of beliefs in areas such as crime, drug abuse, education.
Is an election held before the general election in which candidates from the same party compete for the party nomination.
Primary Election
In a primary election, Democrats run against Democrats and
Republicans run against Republicans. The Democrat winner and the Republican winner face each other in the general election.
There are two types of primaries; open primary and closed primary.
In a closed primary only registered party members may take part in the election and vote for their party’s candidate.
In an open primary any registered voter may vote for any
Candidate running in the election
.
Regularly scheduled statewide elections at which voters make the final selection for public office-holders
A repeat election between 2 front runners in a prior election when no candidate has received a majority of votes. Run-off elections are usually held in places where the law requires a majority vote.
All states have different election laws.
How elections are run is a state right to decide.
Majority vs. plurality election
In a majority election one candidate must receive more than
50% of the vote usually in a two person race.
Candidate A: 50.1%
Candidate B: 49.9%
In a plurality election the candidate that receives the highest percentage of votes wins the election
Candidate A: 37%
Candidate B: 32%
Candidate C: 19%
Candidate D: 12%
The only nationwide election in the country is the Presidential election.
The election for president begins in January of the election year. A party primary is held in nearly every state from
January till the summer months leading into the party convention where the party candidate is chosen.
Some states may hold a caucus rather than a primary. A caucus is a meeting of members of a political party to coordinate members' actions, choose group policy, or nominate candidates for office.
Once all primaries and caucuses are held, the
Candidate that has won the most delegates to the convention for their party will become the party nominee.
On the first Tuesday of November an election is held for president between the Democrat candidate and the
Republican candidate. Other parties may run candidates as well, these are 3 rd parties.
In December the electors from each state meet in their state capitols the cast their Electoral College vote for president based on the popular vote of the people.
The group of electors who are selected by the voters in each state to officially elect the president and vice president. The number of electors in each state is equal to the number of each state’s representatives in both houses of
Congress.
Many people believe the Electoral College is an undemocratic way to elect the president.
Do you think the Electoral College should be eliminated?
How the Electoral College works?
Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of its
U.S. senators plus the number of its U.S. representatives.
Currently, the Electoral College includes 538 electors,
535 for the total number of congressional members, and three who represent Washington, D.C., as allowed by the 23rd
Amendment. On the Monday following the second
Wednesday in December, the electors of each state meet in their respective state capitals to officially cast their votes for president and vice president. These votes are then sealed and sent to the president of the Senate, who on January 6th opens and reads the votes in the presence of both houses of
Congress. The winner is sworn into office at noon on January
20th.
How the Electoral College works?
When a candidate wins the popular vote of a state on election day, that candidate wins the party electors for that state and those electors will vote in their respective state capitol for president.
What makes the Electoral College democratic is that it is based on the popular vote of the state. A candidate may win the popular vote in the whole country but lose the Electoral College vote.
1980 Electoral vote, Reagan vs. Carter
1984 Electoral vote, Reagan vs. Mondale
1988 Electoral vote, Bush vs. Dukakis
Bush was Reagan’s VP, notice the support change
1992 Electoral vote, Bush vs. Clinton
1996 Electoral vote, Clinton vs. Dole
2000 Electoral vote, Bush vs. Gore
2004 Electoral vote, Bush vs. Kerry
2008 Electoral vote, Obama vs. McCain
Obama
Votes
62,611,250
% won
50.6%
Romney 59,134,475 47.8
Others 1,968,682 1.6
Analyzing the Electoral vote
Which parts of the country consistently support the Republicans?
Which parts of the country consistently support the Democrats?
Which states have switched party support during the years?
Which states have lost Electoral College votes over the years?
Which states have gained Electoral College votes over the years?
What would cause a state to gain or lose Electoral College votes?
What election is conducted with the Electoral College system?
What is the number of electors in each state determined by?
Terms primary/general elections run-off elections
Electoral College independent voter secret (Australian) ballot