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Broadly defined, civil rights are those enforceable rights and privileges that, if violated, allow for legal action on behalf of the injured against the perpetrator. The history of the United States is filled with discrimination against certain individuals on the basis of their race, sex, color, religion, national origin, physical abilities, sexual preference, age, and more. Civil rights seek to protect individuals against discrimination.

The first major wave of civil rights laws came in the mid-1800s, beginning with President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War. The president declared that all slaves living in the states still involved in the Civil War were to be free from the servitude and bondage of slavery. In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery completely. The Fourteen Amendment, passed in 1868, declared that all former slaves and other African Americans were granted citizenship and would receive equal protection under the law. The Fifteenth Amendment was passed in 1879, allowing all male citizens the right to vote. Women were not given the right to vote until 1920.

Despite these numerous civil rights extended to people regardless of color, race or national origin, discrimination was still rampant in the United States. In 1896, the Supreme Court approved the “separate but equal” doctrine (Plessy v. Ferguson). This provided a way to discriminate against people. It was not until 1954, in the landmark Supreme Court case Brown V. Board of Education, that the “separate but equal” doctrine was overturned. Still, discrimination was out of control. As a response, the civil rights movement developed and achieved numerous victories, largely by way of non-violent sociopolitical strategies. As a result, the Federal Government passed a series of civil rights laws.

In 1957, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice was established to enforce civil rights laws. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination on the basis of color, race, or national origin in places of public accommodation, public schools, employment, and more. Subsequent civil rights laws were passed throughout the 1960s providing civil rights in housing (Fair Housing Act of 1958), voting rights (Voting Rights Act of 1965), and more. The Civil Rights Act of 1991 strengthens civil rights protections and provides for damages to those who suffer civil rights violations. The Supreme Court and other judiciaries had a pivotal role in extending civil rights to citizens.

In addition to civil rights laws that have focused primarily on racial discrimination, other monumental civil rights laws have been passed to extend rights and privilege to others. The Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act of 1980 extended civil rights to people in institutions, nursing home residents, and prisoners. The American Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 provided an official apology and symbolic restitution to those Japanese Americans who were discriminated against after World War II, 120,000 of which were forced into internment camps where they were held captive for decades.

There are a number of criminal civil rights that protect people from hate crimes based on race, color, national origin, and more. These criminal civil rights prohibit police brutality, violence against health care providers, church burnings, and the transport of persons for enslavement or forced labor (particularly women and children).

The Civil Rights Division of the Federal Department of Justice (established in 1957) began with just a hand full of lawyers responsible for enforcing civil rights laws. As of 2002, the Civil Rights Division employed more than 350 civil rights attorneys dedicated to the enforcement of civil rights and criminal civil rights. There have also been a number of government commissions and task forces established to work towards the goal of protecting the civil rights of all US citizens.

If you or a loved one have suffered a violation of your civil rights or you would like to learn more about civil rights laws, please visit our sister site, Onlinelayersource.com, to contact a qualified civil lawsuit attorney.

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