• Unit 5: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

    The civil rights and civil liberties granted to Americans are central to the American government. Freedoms and rights were important factors in shaping the American political system, and they continue to play a major role in our society today. The Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights, defines our rights and freedoms; however, as society has changed, so too has the perception and realization of civil liberty and civil rights. In this unit, you will explore the freedoms and rights of American citizens.

    The unit will begin by looking at civil liberties guaranteed in the Constitution, especially in the Bill of Rights. The unit will especially focus on the rights defined in the First Amendment, the right to bear arms (Second Amendment), and the right to privacy, with an explanation of how the courts' interpretation of these rights have been applied, or incorporated, by the states. Next, the unit will explore the evolution of civil rights in the American political system, with an emphasis on the civil rights movement and political equality of all Americans. The unit will also pay close attention to how the American political system creates a balance between order and freedom, and equality and rights.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 9 hours.

    • Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

      • distinguish between civil rights and civil liberties;
      • explain the history and importance of the Bill of Rights;
      • examine the rights protected under the First Amendment and key Supreme Court cases that have defined these First Amendment rights;
      • analyze the "right to privacy", its origins, and Supreme Court rulings on privacy;
      • explain the process of incorporation and extending the Bill of Rights to the states;
      • trace the history and outcome of the civil rights movement;
      • discuss the process of expanding civil rights to other minorities and women; and
      • evaluate the history and impact of affirmative action.

    • 5.1: American Civil Liberties

      • 5.1.1: The Bill of Rights and Extending the Bill of Rights to the States

        • Incorporation Page

          Watch this presentation to learn more about how many of the rights protected by the Constitution have been extended and are now protected by the states in a process known as incorporation.

        • U.S. Department of State: "Amendments to the US Constitution, Annotated" URL

          Read the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights, and the accompanying annotations. The Bill of Rights lists the individual rights and freedoms that government may not infringe upon. It was adopted in 1791 by the founders to address fears about the potential of the new federal government to abuse power. The Bill of Rights now applies, though unevenly, to the states as well as the federal government. What these liberties are and how far they extend continues to be the focus of political debate.

      • 5.1.2: First Amendment Rights: Freedom of Religion, Press, and Expression

      • 5.1.3: The Right to Privacy

        • The Fourth Amendment Page

          Watch this presentation to learn more about privacy rights established under the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment prevents the government from conducting unreasonable searches and seizures. A reasonable search is conducted with a warrant issued by a judge and based on probable cause. What is unreasonable varies with how much privacy people can expect when they are being searched.

      • 5.1.4: Rights of the Accused 

        • U.S. Department of State: "Rights of the Accused" URL

          Read this article. The framers of the Constitution had fresh memories of a government that accused people of crimes they did not commit and then convicted them in unfair trials. Consequently, they went to great lengths to assure that the new government they established would not engage in such practices. Toward that end, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights guarantee a series of important protections for individuals accused of committing crimes in the United States.

      • Checkpoint

        • 5.1 Checkpoint Quiz
          Receive a grade

          Answer these ungraded questions to see how well you have understood the course material in this section.

    • 5.2: Equality and Civil Rights

      • 5.2.1: Roots of Inequality: The Civil War Amendments and Racial Segregation

        • Civil War Amendments and the Civil Rights Movement Page

          Watch the first part of this two-part presentation on the Civil War amendments. In addition, click on the picture links under the Explore heading to learn more about the history of the civil rights amendments (also known as the "reconstruction amendments") and the Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson, which legalized the segregationist doctrine "separate but equal".

      • 5.2.2: Political Pressure for Desegregation and the Civil Rights Movement

      • 5.2.3: Civil Rights for Other Groups

        • Civil Rights for Women and Minorities URL

          Read this article, which examines the civil rights movements and obstacles to equality for African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, women, the disabled, and the LGBT community in the history of the United States.

      • 5.2.4: Post-World War II Civil Rights Legislation

      • Checkpoint

        • 5.2 Checkpoint Quiz
          Receive a grade

          Answer these ungraded questions to see how well you have understood the course material in this section.

    • Unit 5 Assessment

      • Unit 5 Assessment Quiz
        Receive a grade

        Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.

        • This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
        • You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
        • You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.