Civil Rights

“No State shall…deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

This quotation is from the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and is known as the equal protection clause. The equal protection clause has become a major tool for defending civil rights in America. During this topic, you will examine the equal protection clause, learn how it has been used to protect civil rights, and study examples of legislation that helped support the promise of equal protection under the law. You will also examine situations where the Supreme Court has upheld the decision to categorize people into groups.

Essential Question

• How does the equal protection clause protect civil rights?