Explain the origin of the civil rights movement as it relates to constitutional interpretation.

Question

A. It originated with the lack of a constitutional amendment that granted formerly enslaved people the right to vote.
B. It originated with individuals, corporations, and states not following constitutional amendments and prescribing equal treatment for education and private property.
C. It originated with states not following such federal laws as the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
D. It originated with the legal definition of private property leading to discriminatory treatment against Black Americans.

Answer 1

C. It originated with states not following such federal laws as the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Civil Rights Movement emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to the systemic racism and segregation that persisted in many parts of the United States. Despite constitutional amendments such as the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing equal protection under the law, African Americans continued to face discrimination and unequal treatment, particularly in the Jim Crow South. The civil rights activists sought to bring about change by advocating for the enforcement of existing federal laws, such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which aimed to end segregation and protect voting rights for African Americans. The movement was largely driven by the recognition that constitutional principles of equality and justice were not being upheld, and activists fought to ensure that the Constitution's promises of equal protection and voting rights were fulfilled.