Civil rights guarantee individuals equal treatment and protection under the law, aiming to prevent discrimination based on characteristics like race, gender, disability, or religion. Civil liberties, on the other hand, are personal freedoms protected from government interference, enshrined in the Constitution to safeguard individual rights.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a significant law in the U.S. that prohibits discrimination in employment and public accommodations based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The First Amendment exemplifies civil liberties by protecting freedoms related to religion, speech, assembly, and petitioning the government.
The Bill of Rights defines many civil liberties, including those in the First and Second Amendments. In addition to these liberties, later amendments, like the thirteenth, fourteenth, and nineteenth, have enhanced civil rights protections.