Equal Protection for Other Groups | American Government for High School - Grade 11 PDF Download

Introduction

Civil rights struggles have profoundly influenced American society, with various minority groups advocating for equality and justice. Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, religious minorities, and others face distinct challenges in their pursuit of fairness. The African American civil rights movement provided a model for other groups, while landmark laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and disability rights legislation, such as the ADA, have expanded protections and accessibility for marginalized communities.

Civil Rights Struggles and Legal Battles of Minority Groups

Challenges for Diverse Minority Groups:

• Hispanic/Latino Americans: Experience discrimination in employment, housing, and education; face language barriers and limited resource access; endure negative stereotyping in media; and navigate immigration-related issues, including fears of deportation.
• Asian Americans: Contend with the "model minority" stereotype, which creates undue pressure; face discrimination in workplaces and schools; are often perceived as perpetual foreigners; and experience anti-Asian violence and hate crimes.
• Religious Minorities: Muslims encounter Islamophobia, while Jewish individuals face anti-Semitism. Both groups deal with misconceptions about their religious practices and often lack accommodations for observances in workplaces and schools.

Impact of African American Civil Rights:

• The African American civil rights movement utilized nonviolent resistance, civil disobedience (e.g., sit-ins, boycotts, marches), and legal challenges to combat discriminatory laws, inspiring other minority groups’ advocacy efforts.
• Key legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, extended protections and political representation to other minorities.
• The movement raised awareness of systemic injustice, motivated other groups to organize, and fostered coalitions among marginalized communities.

Disability Rights Legislation and Policies

• Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504): Prohibits disability-based discrimination in federally funded programs and mandates reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990: Bans disability discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and transportation; requires reasonable accommodations; and sets accessibility standards for buildings and facilities.
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Guarantees free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities, mandates individualized education plans (IEPs), promotes least restrictive environments, and provides funding for special education.

Comparison of Civil Rights Struggles:

• Similarities: Minority groups face discrimination, prejudice, and unequal treatment; seek equal rights and legal protections; employ strategies like protests, legal challenges, and lobbying; and form advocacy organizations.
• Differences: Each group encounters unique forms of discrimination, operates within distinct historical contexts, bases claims on specific characteristics (e.g., race, religion, disability), and is shaped by cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic factors.
• Notable Legal Battles:
  • Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Ended racial segregation in public schools.
  • Lau v. Nichols (1974): Required schools to provide language instruction for non-English-speaking students.
  • Plyler v. Doe (1982): Ensured public education access for undocumented immigrant children.
  • Olmstead v. L.C. (1999): Mandated community-based services for individuals with disabilities when appropriate.

Legal Concepts and Protections

• Protected Classes: Groups safeguarded from discrimination based on characteristics like race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
• Disparate Impact: Policies that seem neutral but disproportionately harm protected groups, even unintentionally.
• Affirmative Action: Policies to boost representation of historically disadvantaged groups in education and employment.
• Intersectionality: Framework recognizing overlapping forms of discrimination based on multiple identities (e.g., race, gender, disability).

Key Terms

• Voting Rights Act of 1965: Landmark law prohibiting racial discrimination in voting, ensuring equal electoral access for all, particularly African Americans and other minorities.
• Civil Rights Movement: Decades-long effort by African Americans and allies to end racial discrimination and secure equal rights, transforming U.S. society.
• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, advancing equality and desegregation.
• Brown v. Board of Education: 1954 Supreme Court ruling declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, pivotal for African American equality.
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Prohibits disability-based discrimination in public life, ensuring equal access in employment, education, and public spaces.
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Ensures free, appropriate education for students with disabilities, mandating IEPs and special education support.
• Disparate Impact: Neutral policies with disproportionate negative effects on protected groups, used to address unintentional discrimination.
• Equal Protection: Constitutional principle requiring equal treatment under the law, central to civil rights via the Fourteenth Amendment.
• Intersectionality: Framework examining how overlapping identities (e.g., race, gender, disability) create unique experiences of discrimination and privilege.
• Affirmative Action: Policies promoting inclusion of underrepresented groups to address historical inequalities in education and employment.
• Intermediate Scrutiny: Judicial review standard for laws affecting important rights or non-suspect classifications, requiring a substantial relation to a government interest.
• Suspect Classification: Groups with a history of discrimination, warranting heightened judicial scrutiny for laws affecting them.
• Section 504: Part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, prohibiting disability discrimination in federally funded programs and requiring accommodations.
• Rational Basis Test: Judicial review standard ensuring government actions are rationally related to a legitimate purpose, used in equal protection cases.
• Lau v. Nichols: Supreme Court case ensuring language instruction for non-English-speaking students under the Equal Protection Clause.
• Plyler v. Doe: Supreme Court ruling guaranteeing free public education to undocumented immigrant children.
• Olmstead v. L.C.: Supreme Court decision affirming the right of individuals with disabilities to community-based services under the ADA.
• IDEA: Federal law ensuring students with disabilities receive appropriate education and support.
• ADA: Civil rights law prohibiting disability discrimination in public life.
• Islamophobia: Prejudice or hatred toward Muslims, leading to discrimination and marginalization.
• Anti-Semitism: Hostility or discrimination against Jewish people based on their ethnicity, religion, or culture.
• Reasonable Accommodation: Adjustments to policies or environments to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities.
• Protected Class: Groups protected from discrimination under law based on characteristics like race or disability.
• Discrimination: Unjust treatment of individuals or groups based on characteristics like race, age, or disability.
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Prohibits disability discrimination in federally funded programs, laying groundwork for the ADA.