US Amendments Quiz

Questions and Answers

What did the 13th Amendment end?

slavery

What was the loophole in the 13th Amendment?

slavery as a punishment for crime

What two rights did the 14th Amendment guarantee?

citizenship and equal protection under the law

What was the loophole created by the Supreme Court in their Plessy ruling?

'separate but equal' Signup and view all the answers

What was the Plessy v Ferguson case about?

segregation and 'separate but equal' Signup and view all the answers

What does the 15th Amendment guarantee?

the right to vote regardless of race Signup and view all the answers

What was the loophole in the 15th Amendment?

literacy tests, civics tests, and the grandfather clause Signup and view all the answers

Why was the 14th Amendment considered useless in ending segregation?

Black people couldn't vote Signup and view all the answers

Why was the Civil Rights Act of 1964 so important?

It ended segregation and banned employment discrimination Signup and view all the answers

What did Title IV encourage?

the desegregation of public schools Signup and view all the answers

What does Title VI prohibit?

discrimination based on race, color, and national origin Signup and view all the answers

What does Title XI provide?

the right to a jury trial for certain contempt categories Signup and view all the answers

What were some of the ways the government ensured compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Titles IV, VI, and XI Signup and view all the answers

How does the Commerce Clause connect to the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

It allows Congress to regulate interstate trade and prohibits discrimination in businesses involved in trade. Signup and view all the answers

What does Title I bar?

unequal application of voter registration requirements Signup and view all the answers

What did Title II outlaw?

discrimination in public accommodations Signup and view all the answers

What does Title VII prohibit?

employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or pregnancy Signup and view all the answers

What are the four protected classes covered under Title II?

race, color, religion, or national origin Signup and view all the answers

What were several additional classes added in subsequent legislation?

disabled, age, pregnancy, parental status Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States.
Allows slavery as a punishment for crime, creating a loophole.

14th Amendment

Grants citizenship to all born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves.
Prohibits states from denying due process and equal protection under the law.
Introduced the “separate but equal” doctrine through Supreme Court loopholes.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Supreme Court case that legitimized "separate but equal" facilities for races.
Ruled against Plessy's claim of constitutional rights violation, upholding Jim Crow laws.

15th Amendment

Prohibits voting discrimination based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Loopholes included literacy tests, civics tests, and grandfather clauses.

Ineffectiveness of the 14th Amendment

Although it granted citizenship, many Black individuals were still disenfranchised due to barriers like literacy tests.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Significant legislation that ended segregation in public places.
Banned employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Title IV

Encouraged desegregation of public schools.
Empowered the U.S. Attorney General to enforce desegregation through lawsuits.

Title VI

Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in federally assisted programs.

Title XI

Grants defendants the right to a jury trial for specific criminal contempt cases related to the Act.
Maximum penalties include fines up to $1,000 or six months imprisonment.

Government Enforcement of the Civil Rights Act

Compliance ensured through the provisions of Titles IV, VI, and XI.

Commerce Clause Connection

Allows Congress to regulate interstate commerce, thus prohibiting discrimination in businesses involved in such trade.
Utilized to ensure desegregation in both private and public sectors.

Title I

Bars unequal voter registration practices, though it does not eliminate literacy tests.

Title II

Outlaws discrimination in public accommodations related to interstate commerce, with exceptions for private clubs.

Title VII

Prohibits employment discrimination by private employers based on race, color, religion, and national origin, later expanded to include sex and pregnancy.

Protected Classes Under Title II

Includes race, color, religion, and national origin.

Additional Protected Classes in Subsequent Legislation

Expanded to cover disabled individuals, age, pregnancy, and parental status.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the 13th and 14th Amendments of the United States. This quiz covers the abolition of slavery and the rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, along with the loopholes created in legal rulings. Discover key historical concepts through engaging flashcards.