American Democracy Now, 2nd Edition (Harrison)

Chapter 5: Civil Rights

Chapter Summary

This chapter examines the historical evolution of American civil rights. Students will increase their understanding of this issue by focusing on the following:

• The concept of equality under the law
• The history of African Americans, slavery, and civil rights
• The evolution of the civil rights movement for African-American equality
• The movement for women's civil rights
• Other various civil rights movements among Native Americans; Latinos; Asian Americans; citizens with disabilities; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered citizens
• The current debate over the constitutionality of affirmative action