Module 7: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

The civil rights and civil liberties enjoyed by modern Americans were not always available to everyone. For example, when the Constitution was first ratified, generally the only Americans who could vote were white protestant men over the age of twenty-one, who owned land. This obviously ruled out a sizable portion of the population. The rights and liberties originally enjoyed by a very small segment of the population have expanded over time. This expansion of civil rights and civil liberties came about through Supreme Court rulings, amendments to the Constitution, federal legislation, executive intervention, and perhaps most importantly, the efforts of countless American citizens. During this module, you will learn about the Bill of Rights, due process of law, the equal protection clause, and citizenship.

Getting Started

What do you think of when you hear the term civil liberty? Do you imagine Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence by candlelight? Do you picture Abraham Lincoln speaking in front of a large crowd? What do you picture when you hear the term civil rights? Do you think of Martin Luther King, Jr. reciting his famous “I Have a Dream” speech? Do you picture iconic images of the Civil Rights movement or the Women’s Suffrage Movement?

What do you picture when you think of citizenship? The word citizenship may be significantly less symbolic and poetic compared to civil liberty or civil rights, especially if you have been an American citizen since you were born; however, an immigrant hoping to become an American citizen will most likely have a different interpretation of the word.

Key Vocabulary

To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.