Civil Rights
Definition
Civil rights are basic rights guaranteed to every citizen that protect individuals' freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals.
Analogy
Civil rights are like the safety gear you wear when riding a bike. They protect you (your freedoms and liberties) from getting hurt (being infringed upon or discriminated against).
Related terms
Civil Liberties: Basic constitutional freedoms that each citizen has to be free from governmental interference.
Discrimination: The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.
First Amendment Rights: Part of the Bill of Rights in the U.S Constitution that protects freedoms including speech, assembly, and worship.
"Civil Rights" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (6)
Which trend generally describes Supreme Court decisions related to civil rights over time?
Which historical event led to an increase in Federal court cases related to civil rights?
What distinguishes civil rights from civil liberties in US Constitution?
Which social movement significantly influenced the creation of new legislation in terms of civil rights during the mid-20th century?
What might have happened if the Democratic Party had not adopted a platform supporting Civil Rights during the 1960s?
How do attitudes towards civil rights differ between generations?
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.