Chapter 5 Civil Rights

  1. Review the Voting Rights Act of 1965, making sure to pay special attention to section 4 and section 5.

What groups are protected under the Voting Rights Act? Why was the Voting Rights Act necessary? Identify the sections and/or amendments that mention the group that you have identified as being a protected group.

  1. Use the following website, to test your subconscious biases toward various groups. Choose two Implicit Association Tests to take. What were your results? Are you surprised by these results? Why are biases important, as they relate to civil rights? What are some of the indicators that impact biases?
  1. The Supreme Court ruled in Shelby County v. Holder that the formula in section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is outdated and that Congress will need to create a new formula to implement the pre-clearance clause in section 5. A number of states, many of which are subject to the pre- clearance clause in section 5, have now adopted new election laws that many argue make it harder for people to vote. Identify which states have passed new election laws. Why have these states passed new election laws?
  1. Research the concept glass ceiling, as it relates to women. Compare the salaries between men and women. Now, compare the salaries between males and females by race. Which group is first and which group is last? Why do you think that each group is located where they are in the rankings?
  1. Visit the following link, and follow the instructions for completing the literacy test administered in Louisiana prior to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
  1. Using the Internet, identify three civil rights issues that have been addressed by Congress over the last decade.
  1. It has now been 50 years since the passage of The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Based on research, has there been any progress? If so, what progress? Also, what do Americans believe about the progress of civil rights?

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