Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Research Paper on Civil Rights

Research Paper on Civil Rights

Between 1866 up to today, historical evolution of affirmative action has taken place in the United States. The events that took place have both pros and cons to it, and even some may affect our future academic choices, adult life, and career. Many of these events include the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the 14th amendment, the Civil Rights Act of 1875, the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1968, the Bakke v Regents of California 1978, and the Supreme Court Rulings: University of Michigan, June 23, 2003. Most of these events involve citizenship and civil rights as a US citizen.

During the 1860's a new amendment was added to the Constitution, which is known as the 14th amendment. The 14th amendment was added to the Constitution because blacks feared that the Supreme Court would deny them citizenship and that they would overturn the Civil Rights Act. The 14th amendment states that anyone born in the United States is granted citizenship. The 14th amendment also guaranteed equal protection under law and that no state could deprive a person of life, liberty, and property without due process under law. The pros of this law was that it guaranteed citizenship to anyone born in the United States, equal protection of the laws, and that no state could deprive a person of life, liberty, and property without due process under law. The cons of this law was that the law did not mention citizenship to former slaves not born in the United States, and also that any place of accommodation or facilities did not have to be equal to others. The 14th amendment affected our future because it gave us citizenship and as we grow to be adults, this amendment supports the right to vote.

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Through the 1860's Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866. The main idea of the act was to declare that anyone born in the United States is a citizen, regardless to race or color. Any person who denied these rights to former slaves was guilty of a crime and faced a fine and/or imprisonment not exceeding a year. The pros of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was that it gave African Americans or any minority a chance to be a normal citizen, and it also allowed them to have a normal American citizen rights such as to sue, purchase, sell, or inherit. The cons of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 is that it brought began to start a terror group called the Ku Klux Klan, and once the Ku Klux Klan emerged the guarantee of the civil rights of African Americans began to fall. Another negatives are that the population of the United States increased dramatically, in addition if an immigrant in the US has a child, the child is a citizen and the parent isn't which leads to more immigration and a higher population. This affects us greatly because all people of our generation have mainly been born in the United States. We have all experienced this act and we all wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the act.

During 1875, the Civil Rights Act was passed. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 stated that everyone within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have full and equal enjoyment of accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges of inns, public conveyances on land or water, and theaters of amusement. The pros of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 was that it gave every citizen, regardless race and color, the equal and full enjoyment of public places. This allowed everyone to have an equal opportunity to enjoy his or her surroundings. The cons of this act is that the Civil Rights Act of 1875 goes against the 14th amendment because it says that any state shall make or enforce any law which abridge the privileges or immunities of the citizens of the US. Instead of state, it should say states, persons, or corporations. Another con is that the Civil Rights Act of 1875 lead to the Jim Crow Laws and the rise of terrorist groups. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 will affect our future because it allow the public places for every citizen of the United States to enjoy.

In the 1950's another Civil Rights Act was introduced called the Civil Rights Act of 1957. The Civil Rights Act gave power to the federal government to interfere with states that did not allow African Americans the right to vote. The act also gave the federal government the power to stop states from denying black suffrage. The pros of this act was that it enforced voting rights, especially for black people, and it also allowed the federal to investigate discriminatory in states. The cons of this act were that it gave the federal government extra power over the states instead of a state taking care of its own affair. This act can affect our future in a way that gave the minority groups, such as blacks, the right to vote and that discriminatory man be reduced in the future.

In 1964 a new act was passed and it was called the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The act made racial discrimination in public places, such as theaters, restaurants, and hotels illegal. The act also called for employers to provide equal employment opportunities. The pros of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 were that it tried to give every citizen equal opportunity regarding race and color. The Act also tried to stop racial discrimination throughout public places. The cons of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was that it interfered with the first amendment of the Constitution, freedom of speech because people should be able to speak their mind in public places. Another con of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is that it did not mention equal employment opportunity for gender. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 can affect our future because it can allow all races to have an equal employment opportunity and it can again slow down or stop racial slurs and discrimination.

In 1968 Congress adopted a new act called the Civil Rights Act of 1968. The act basically guaranteed open housing to all citizens of the United States. This act aloud anyone to sell or rent a house with the exception of owner-occupied homes sold directly by the owner. The Pros of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 included that the federal government would protect the people's civil rights, and the act also guaranteed open housing, the sale or rental of a house, also known as fair housing. The cons of the act was that there was nothing accomplished in inner cities for the majority of America's black people and that the nation began to separate become unequal. The Civil Rights Act of 1968 can affect our future because it allows us to conduct the selling or renting of a house.

The case of Regents of the University of California v. Allan Bakke started when affirmative action came before the Supreme Court in 1978. The case was about a student named Allan Bakke, who was white, which was denied admission to the university's medical school although his scores were higher than other students admitted. Bakke argued that he was being discriminated because he was white. The Supreme Court agreed with him because although schools could take race or ethnic background into consideration for variety, a quota system was not legal. The pros of this decision is that the racial quota system violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and that it also violated the equal protection clause in the 14th amendment. Some good things that also came out of this case were that bakke won he would be admitted to medical school, also that now because of this case white people will not lose out on jobs to less qualified people because of affirmative action. The cons of the decision are that majorities have to get in by high score and minorities could get in because of their race and color and that they are minorities. This could affect our future in such a way that minorities can still get their fair shot without white people getting unfair conditions either, this case made it even for both sides.

On June 23, 2003 the US Supreme court sustained the right of universities to consider race in admissions procedures in order to achieve a diverse student body. This means that race will not be a major factor in the admission process yet it will still be a factor. This gives the more intelligent students a better chance of being accepted. It also restricts colleges to deny anyone because of their racial background being a minority or white. The negative are that minorities will have difficulty getting accepted into top colleges. With that being said the diversity of colleges is going to decrease.

This decision by the Supreme Court has a great affect on the chances of our college acceptances. Now that race is not a major factor the more qualified student will have a better chance of being accepted. Yet race is still a factor and with this decision the percent of minorities in top schools are going to decrease dramatically. The minorities are going to have biggest disadvantage from this ruling because the number of top minorities is low but now they will have a tougher time of being accepted.

From the Civil Rights Act of 1866 up to Today, the United States and its government have tried to balance out citizenship for all. During that time period, the United States has tried to come up with solutions so that everyone is promised life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

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