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The Importance Of Civil Rights In The United States

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Throughout the history of the United States of America, various groups have risen to demand equal treatment under the law. In many cases the treatment they were seeking was in part pursued based on the fact that they believed they were entitled to as a American citizen. In many instances these groups were successful in advocating their position based what they felt were their rights under the Constitution of the United States. Some of the rights sought were based on civil right, and some were based on civil liberties. Each time a group or an individual has risen to protect such rights; they have been met with considerable opposition from the many who interpret such rights differently. A great many lives have been lost in the continued pursuit …show more content…

Simply understanding each of the rights guaranteed to Americans under the Constitution is not enough. In order for a group to rise up and secure equal protection under the law, they must clearly communicate what protections they are entitled too, overcome campaigns of public opinion and controversy and establish which competing values of Freedom, Order, and Equality they should be privileged too.
There is a clear difference between an individual’s civil rights, and their civil liberties. However, there seems to be a common misconception as to which is which. Saylor defines civil rights as “protections …show more content…

Often groups will leverage civil liberties protections to make their case for acceptance or to gain political clout to progress their cause. The pursuit of such an advantage means that a decision of which fundamental value will be used to advance the issue. Some of the values that provide the best argument are often competing with each other. The Value of Freedom, or complete absence of restrictions or barriers, is a concept that was relevant during the times of slavery but is in direct conflict with the concept of order. Order is achieved by erecting restrictions and barriers. However the very order reduces the purity of Freedom. The most commonly pursued value is that of equality. The desire for equality has driven groups to organize effectively and make the case to end slavery, and eventually capitalize on legislation that created the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Though Freedom, Equality and order can be mutually compatible there is tension among

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