Argumentative essays about Civil Rights Movement
The United States cultivated the perfect soil for social justice thanks to the civil rights movement. This political movement was a struggle for the equality of African Americans and other activists, such as Rosa Parks.
During the mid-1950s, the fight against racial segregation and discrimination intensified. It lasted until 1968 when it ended with the assassination of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Hence, don’t get surprised if your teacher assigns an argumentative essay on civil rights movement. Such titles are common in college because the concept is still a burning topic.
Your research paper on civil rights movement must address legalization, socio-economic factors, and personalities that symbolize the combat. When exploring civil rights movement essay topics, check historical information and reliable sources. Also, remember to examine the causes and effects of the civil rights movement. Once you read several civil rights movement essay examples and topics, ensure you frame an introduction, outline, conclusion, and summary.
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Civilis right in this country will always be the biggest issue that Americans must face. Because everyone comes from different racial backgrounds, it seems to be a controversial issue that might never come to end; one way or another the rights of many are always unfairly portrayed. However, during earlier centuries like the 19th and 20th century this issue presented itself greater then it is portrayed now, many have fought to establish their rights in the political system. It hasn’t been smooth sailing to get to where we are; it has been a fight of years and years to reach the peak of today. Many Americans, specifically minorities, did not have the certain rights that they have today. Because of the restrictive nature of the U.S political system and its inequality minorities in earlier centuries have faced with being deprived of their political, social, and economic benefits. Minorities did not have the equal freedom that whites did.
Because whites had the right to serve only white, segregation had been established everywhere. Although it appeared to seem that minorities were getting the same access grants to establishments like hotels, schools, and restaurants as white, a sense of discrimination against race was implicitly noticeable. Initially only those who were white and/or own land were given the right to vote, therefore minorities were cheated out of their right to contribute to this country. Minorites knew the process to equality would be long and difficult, but after years of inhuman treatment change to this county made entrance.
Acts like the Civil Rights Act and Voting Right were established, yet no noticeable change was being implicated. These circumstances led to the rise of minorities and their initiations to act upon the inequality issue which has resulted in many marches and movement that to this day are taking place for the equality of all. The 19th and 20th century restricted a larger portion of American civil and political rights due to racial inequality. Contra Costa College text book American Government in Black and White defines Civil Rights; it defines civil rights as “the protection against unequal treatment that the government guarantees to all groups” (McClain and Tauber, 2018: 133).
Though this is what it meant to have civil rights many whites did not perceive free black slaves as equal, rather they still viewed them as inferiors. African Americans were a significant minority group that underwent the discrimination of “superior” whites. The historical background of blacks is a demonstration of why a large group of Americans were restricted civil and political rights, because even though they were freed the U.S constitution denied their right on the sole basis of their color/race. Change in slavery began to take place, however this did not benefit all slaves as stated in the book, “each state determined its own policy on civil rights” (McClain and Tauber, 2018: 139). By the initiation of the 19th century only Northern states had stopped slavery allowing many slaves to sue for and successfully obtain their freedom.
Many slaves ran away to northern states where they were provided state protection, however in 1942 state protection was suspended. Laws like the Black Codes passed in 1865 and 1866 which discriminated against African Americans preventing them from their civil rights such as marriage and labor. Other barriers that restricted African Americans from their civil rights were things like literacy tests, Grandfather clauses, and poll taxes. Each of these barriers were specifically designed to enable the voting right of African Americans. For example, the literacy test established that all voters must have the ability to read as a requirement to vote, however when they were presented with the test whites were give basic readings and blacks were given more challenged based readings— complicated provision in the state constitution (McClain and Tauber, 2018: 143). Another example would be the Poll Tax which was a fee for those who registered to vote however it was more likely affordable by whites than by African Americans who wishes to vote. Another minority group that has undergone restriction of civil rights are women.
This group is a non-racial group that experienced many acts of discrimination on the bases that the 14th amendment did not protect discrimination against gender or sexual orientations. Women in the 19th century were not permitted to leave their abusive husbands, obtain a prestige occupation or, widows obtain their heritages. Though there seems to have been a little bit of hope for women when the 19th amendment was passed, this was truly not the case. Even after the 19th amendment was established women were still being discriminated because of gender inequality.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights 1965 helped promote better inquisition and equality by protecting the rights of minorities who were being discriminated. As stated in American Government in Black and White the civil right act made it illegal to discriminate African Americans and minorities in public accommodations such as restaurants, movies and hotels (McClain and Tauber, 2018: 5); this allowed service to all depict race or ethnicity. Though this law as passed whites tried to set up law that made it almost impossible for minorities to vote as discussed previously, Tax Poll and Literacy Test.
Each one designed to keep minorities, specifically African Americans, from voting. However, congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which over turned these laws allowing minorities complete freedom to voting. One Supreme court case that was decisive in undermining the civil rights was Plessy vs Ferguson because his case declared it constitutional for races to be kept separate. Homer Plessy was seven-eighth white and one-eighth black. In the year 1892 he bought a first-class ticket, got on the train and sat in one of the coach seats. He was then approached by the conductor who instructed him to move back to a different car since this car was white only, when Plessey refused to do so he was thrown into jail.
Since he was seven-eighth white and one-eighth black Plessy argued that was white and had right to sit in the white’s car. However, since he was in Louisiana the Louisiana law considered him a black man and was put on state trial for breaking the law by sitting in the car he was not supposed to be in. Though Plessy argued that the state law unconstitutional judge Ferguson agreed with the law stating that it was not. Plessy decided to ask the Louisiana Supreme Court to issue a writ of prohibition against judge Ferguson, but they also sided with judge Ferguson. Now Plessy took it one step further and ask the U.S Supreme Court to issue a writ of error.
After reviewing the case the U.S Supreme Court established that the 14th amendment and the 13th amendment weren’t violated. This case presented undermining of civil right because it was a case that investigated in depth what it meant separate but equal. The fourteenth amendment was designed to make everyone equal under the law, but it wasn’t intended to eliminate distinction based on race. Segregated facilities weren’t violating any law if they were presenting “separate but equal”.
In other word Louisiana state law wasn’t acting in a form of racial discrimination but rather they were respecting the law that these two races preferred to remain segregated. Furthermore, Justice Harlan found that the Louisiana law was discriminatory because it wanted to keep blacks from sitting in seat that were for only whites, which was clearly a matter of keeping blacks away from whites. Harlan said the constitution was color blind therefore no one should be denied their rights based on their race. This was over thrown, and the court case Plessy vs Ferguson enhanced the law “separate but equal”.