sample research paper on civil rights movement

7/31/2019 Sample Research Paper on Civil Rights Movement

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Sample research paper on Civil Rights Movement:

When one thinks about civil rights what may come to mind? Possibly a person may wonderabout over what civil rights they themselves have. Others might remember a certain civil rights

leader that was brought out during one of the greatest movements in United States history.

However, even though people know of the civil rights movement a person could never reallyknow what struggles thousands of people went through in order to reach and preserve the rights

that we all enjoy today. Let us acknowledge how they went about doing so.

Within the first section of the constitution it states; all men are created equal under god. Contrary

to what this natural right says, if you a minority living up to or during the 1950s 60s you would

know that these were just words on paper, not a guideline that people lived their life by. Eventhough a natural right looks and appears fine on paper, if people do not abide by it; it means

nothing. This was the first problem faced by activists during the civil rights movement, getting a

natural right (which was protected under a philosophical basis) and making it a hundred times

stronger as a civil right. In essence, this was what the root to what the movement was all about.

Throughout the civil rights movement our judicial system sometimes had to act as the final word

when it came to a civil rights issue. One of the first victories for civil rights activists occurred in1954 with the Supreme Court case of Brown V. Board of Education. The court ruled that having

segregation in public schools was unconstitutional act. This was a large battle that was won and

it signified that the way in which people were living their lives was going to change.

Civil rights activists made many efforts to use non-violent methods of getting their point across.

One of the first weapons used was their own local economy. This occurrence happened in 1955,when a 43-year-old African-American woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on

the bus to a white man. As she expected she was arrested, but it sparked a boycott on the

Montgomery Bus Line. With no minorities using the bus it cost the company over half of itsmonthly revenue. This later would force another supreme court ruling, forcing that Bus

Segregation was unconstitutional and no longer would color of a persons skin dictate if and

where they sat on the bus.

Yet another way that activists demonstrated their beliefs in a peaceful way was the use of a Sit

in. Having Sit ins was an act that was first used at a lunch counter in Greensboro, NorthCarolina. Civil rights activists would sit in a restaurant knowing that full well they were not

going to be granted service. Instead they were subject to name-calling and food being thrust on

to them. After this event in Greensboro, it sparked many more sit ins all across the states.

One of the most historical events that took place during the civil rights movement was theDesegregation at Little Rock. It was set to become the first High School to be desegregated. The

date was set for September 2, which corresponded with the first day of school, but a group ofangry townspeople prevented it from occurring. However, the following day all nine African-

American students were brought into the school with members of the National Guard at their

sides. Thus, on September 3, 1957 Little Rock High School was desegregated.


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One of the few black eyes on the civil rights movement happened on March 7, 1965; it was

supposed to be a peaceful march lead by Dr. Martin Luther King, but later that day would beremembered as Bloody Sunday.

State troopers using gas as well as beating the people who were potentially protest voting laws

with batons stopped hundreds of people. This was a violent day in American History, but alsoserved a purpose; and that same year voting laws were changed allowing African-Americans to

vote.

Robert Frost once wrote, I have taken the road less traveled by and that has made all the

difference. That is what historians should think of people who contributed their time, dignity,and on some occasions even their life to the Civil Rights Movement. Cause to these people and

the things that they did, today although things are not all fare, they are easier for people who

walk in a skin that is different from white.

Civil rights are the freedoms and rights that a person may have as a member of a community,

state, or nation. Civil rights include freedom of speech, of the press, and of religion. Amongothers are the right to own property and to receive fair and equal treatment from government,

other persons, and private groups. Law protects a person s civil rights and custom, courts of law

decide whether a person's civil rights have been violated. The courts also determine the limits of

civil rights, so that people do not use their freedoms to violate the rights of others. Courts of lawdecide whether a person's civil rights have been violated. The courts also determine the limits of

civil rights, so that people do not use their freedoms to violate the rights of others.

The United States Constitution describes the basic civil rights of American citizens. Each state

constitution has a bill or declaration of rights. When Americans raise questions about the extent

and limits of civil rights, they turn to the Supreme Court's decisions for the answers. The court

often defines the limits of a right by balancing the right of the individual against the rights of

society in general. The First Amendment is the basis of the democratic process in the UnitedStates. The First Amendment forbids Congress to pass laws restricting freedom of speech, of the

press, of peaceful assembly, or of petition. Many people consider freedom of speech the mostimportant freedom and the foundation of all other freedoms. The First Amendment also forbids

Congress to pass laws establishing a state religion or restricting religious freedom. The Supreme

Court has ruled that the 14th Amendment makes the guarantees of the 1st Amendment apply to

the state governments. Many parts of the Constitution, congressional and state laws, and courtdecisions require the government to treat individuals fairly. These requirements reflect a basic

principle in the American legal system called due process. The 5th and 14th amendments forbid

the government to deprive a person of life, liberty, or property "without due process of law." Due

process of law includes court procedures that protect individuals accused of wrongdoing. People

accused of a crime must be informed of their constitutional rights and of the charges againstthem. Persons on trial may cross-examine their accusers and may force witnesses to testify.

The United States has many minority groups. These minorities include blacks, Jews, Asian

Americans, European immigrants, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, homosexuals, and

people with handicaps. Members of these groups often have not had an equal chance foreconomic, political, or social advancement. Members of some minorities have been denied the

right to vote. Many persons have been discriminated against in housing, education, and


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employment, and have been denied equal access to restaurants, hotels, and other public

accommodations and facilities. A main goal has been to end such discrimination and guaranteeequal rights and opportunities for all people. Black Americans, who make up the largest minority

group in the United States, have been denied their full civil rights more than any other minority

group.

Black Americans made significant gains in their struggle for equal rights during Reconstruction,the 12-year period after the American Civil War. During Reconstruction, Congress passed

several laws to protect blacks' civil rights. The 13th Amend., adopted in 1865, abolished slaveryin the United States. In 1868, the 14th Amendment made the former slaves citizens. It also

provided that the states must grant all people within their jurisdiction "equal protection of the

laws." The 15th Amendment prohibited the states from denying people the right to vote becauseof their race. During the late 1870's, white Americans increasingly disregarded the newly won

rights of black Americans. The government itself contributed greatly to denying blacks their

rights. In 1883, the Supreme Court ruled that congressional acts to prevent racial discrimination

by private individuals were unconstitutional. In 1896, in the case of Plessy vs. Ferguson, theSupreme Court upheld a Louisiana law requiring separate but equal accommodations for blacks

and whites in railroad cars. For over 50 years, many Southern states used the "separate but equal"rule established in this case to segregate the races in public schools, and in transportation,

recreation, and such public establishments as hotels and restaurants. Many states also usedliteracy tests, poll taxes, and other means to deprive blacks of their voting rights. However, after

the 1930 s, blacks began to receive fair hearings on civil

rights cases in the federal courts. The most important was Plessy vs. Ferguson, this case declared

the segregation in public schools unconstitutional and later declared to have all schools

desegregated. This decision broke down the separate but equal principle.

In 1957, Congress passed the first federal civil rights law since Reconstruction. The Civil Rights

Act of 1957 set up the Commission on Civil Rights to investigate charges of denial of civil

rights. It created the Civil Rights Division in the Department of Justice to enforce federal civilrights laws and regulations. During the 1960's, black Americans' voting rights received increased

protection. The 24th Amendment, adopted in 1964, barred poll taxes in federal elections. The

Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed literacy tests in many Southern states. In 1966, the Supreme

Court prohibited poll taxes in state and local elections. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was one ofthe strongest civil rights bills in U.S. history. It also barred discrimination by employers and

unions, and established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce fair

employment practices. Also in 1968, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government hadthe power to enforce housing-discrimination laws even in cases involving only private

individuals.

Civil rights have long been protected in the constitutional democracies of Western Europe. Thesenations include France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries. Many

new nations of Africa and Asia have adopted constitutions that guarantee basic civil rights. Most

nondemocratic governments claim to protect civil rights. China's Constitution, for example,guarantees the right to vote and assures freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly,

however, Chinese government controls the newspapers and other forms of communication.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a Universal Declaration of Human Rights in1948. It states that all people are born free and are equal in dignity and rights. Many experts in


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international law believe that the declaration lacks legal authority, but most agree that it has high

moral authority.

Research Paper on Civil Rights

Between 1866 up to today, historical evolution of affirmative action has taken place in the UnitedStates. 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 14thamendment 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.

We can write a research paper on Civil Rights for you!

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 Statesincreased 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
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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,


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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.

The Origins of The Civil Rights Movement - African American Studies

Research Paper

The civil rights movement began in 1954 with the Supreme Court ruling on the Brown v. TheBoard of Education and ended almost ten years later in 1965 in Selma, Alabama with the killing

of 4 young girls.

The origins of the civil rights movements can be linked all the way back to Reconstruction.

Blacks in America had been trying to become equal citizens for nearly 100 years. Blacks in the

South had been put back to a near slavery conditions with the Black Codes and the Jim CrowLaws.


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In 1909 NAACP was formed, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,

by W.E.B. Dubois the first black man to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard. The NAACP promotedequality for blacks.

The CIO, the Congress for Industrial Organization, was the first union to allow blacks to

participate in as equal members. The CIO helped teach blacks how to vote, get signatures forpetitions and how to organize strikes. These organizations existed during the early 1900s to

World War II. In World War II blacks fought to protect America. They fought to protect therights they were not given as citizens. When blacks returned from the war they were expected to

go back to being second class citizens. All of these events contributed to the beginning to the

civil rights movement.

The events that started the civil rights movement began in 1954, when the Supreme Court ruled

in the case of Brown v Board of Education of Tapeka, Kansas that segregation in schools was

unconstitutional and wrong. The NAACP hired Thurgood Marshall to argue the case in front ofthe Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall went ahead to be the first Black Supreme Court Justice.

He served for 24 years on the Supreme Court.In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her seat up to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama. Shewas arrested and put in jail. Her refusal to give up her seat lead to an eight month strike of the

bus system in Montgomery. The black community organized their own carpools and buses

during the entire eight months. 65% of Montgomerys bus income came from black riders. Theeight-month strike put a severe financial burden on the city. The Supreme Court ruled that bus

segregation was unconstitutional and ended the strike.

Next 1957, the Governor of Arkansas refused to desegregate his schools and ordered the

National Guard to stop 9 black students from desegregating Little Rocks Central High School.Governor Faubus completely ignored President Eisenhower orders to desegregate. The President

then sent in Paratroopers and National Guardsmen to escort the 9 black students into CentralHigh School.

In 1960, four college students started a sit-in in Greensboro, North Carolina. Every day thesefour students returned to a caf for lunch waiting to be served. They received national attention

and black and white students started participating in the sit in. While all of these events are going

on white policemen and white mobs are assaulting blacks. Bull OConnor, the Police Chief, ofBirmingham, Alabama, orders his officers to beat up black protesters. The black protesters

followed Ghandis example of the non-violent protest. This practice of non-violence infuriated

the white attackers, however, when the news cameras would capture the violence on camera, it

would show non-violent protesters singing gospel hymns and walking slowly down the streetbeing attacked by white bigots.

In 1961, the freedom riders tried to show how the nations bus where now desegregated by riding

Cross County. They met opposition along the way. Then in 1962, the University of Mississippi

was desegregated. As this lone black student broke the white barrier U.S. Marshals and NationalGuardsmen escorted him. In 1963, the civil rights movement took off. Dr. Martin Luther King,

Jr. led the march on Washington D.C. His march ended on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

where he gave his I have a dream speech. This year was hard for blacks the leader of the


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NAACP, Medgar Evans, was gunned down in his driveway. His killer was not brought to justice

until the late 1990s.

The civil rights movement came to an end in 1964, when a church was attacked on a Sunday

morning killing four little black girls. President Lyndon B. Johnson then passed the Civil Rights

Act of 1964, which guaranteed the rights of minorities; President Johnson also passed the VotingRights Act of 1965, which guaranteed the voting rights of minorities. President Johnson started

other programs to help minorities like the Head Start Program.

The civil rights movement then fell apart the leaders became interested in other causes. New

black leaders emerged with Malcolm X and S. Carmichael who encouraged blacks to fightviolence with violence. The Black Panthers were formed with the Black Power movement.

The civil rights movement lead to the beginning of other movements such as women,

homosexuals, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans and other groups. The civil rights

movement achieved first class citizenship for blacks and minorities 100 years after the civil war.The civil rights movement questioned everything America stood for.

sample research paper on civil rights movement

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