...The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted on July 9, 1868. It guaranteed equal protection of the laws, and was proposed in response to issues related to former slaves following the American Civil War. Although this was not the case as the years progressed. Many states in the south implemented rules such as a literacy tests, civics tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses, and violence. Many colored people’s voting rights were opressed up until 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed. Despite the rights guaranteed by the 14th amendment, the racial discrimination going on at polls did not begin to change until 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed. A key force in this process were the multiple protests and...
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...DBQ 2: The Bill of Rights The Constitution is a living document. The Framers of the Constitution wrote it to serve as the new governing body after fighting the Revolutionary War and declaring independence from Great Britain. Although all Framers agreed on a need for a new framework for a new government, the Federalists and Antifederalists had different priorities. In the end, the two sides merged their ideas through the Great Compromise and America’s Constitution was accomplished by ratifying a Bill of Rights. However, after over 200 years, the government’s efforts to balance individual rights and the safety of the greater good has not been effectively achieved. Over the years, as issues arise, the government makes decisions and interprets the constitutionality of the actions of the people. In a political cartoon, a man is burning an American flag while another man is burning the same flag printed on the back pocket of his pants (Document 1). This cartoon represents the Supreme Court case Texas v. Johnson, where Gregory Lee Johnson’s action of burning the US flag was declared symbolic speech, and is therefore protected by the 1st Amendment. The man burning another man’s pants is most likely someone who is offended by this ruling and is mistreating said ruling...
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