TFN1 Task 3
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WGU TFN1 Task 3: Civil Rights
Movement & Second Amendment
Debate
A1.
The Civil Rights Movement worked to fight against the unfair treatment and racism that
African Americans dealt with across the country, especially in the southern states. These
issues had been going on for a long time and were built into the way society and laws
worked. One of the primary concerns was the legalized racial segregation that denied
Black Americans equal access to services, facilities, and opportunities, such as schools,
transportation, and restaurants. Jim Crow laws helped keep society separated by race and
caused Black Americans to be treated unfairly and unequally. On top of that, they faced a
lot of challenges just trying to vote, like unfair rules and practices that made it hard for
them to take part in elections. Poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation at the polls
served to suppress their political voice. The movement arose in direct response to these
inequities and aimed to restore the civil rights and legal protections guaranteed by the
Constitution (Western Governors University, 2020, Lesson 13).
A2.
To help fix the unfair treatment that the Civil Rights Movement was fighting against,
Congress created the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law was meant to break down
segregation and make things more equal in the U.S. It made it illegal to discriminate
against someone in public places, schools, or jobs because of their race, color, religion,
sex, or where they’re from. The act gave the federal government authority to enforce
these rules, particularly in institutions that had long practiced racial exclusion. It marked
a turning point in the legal fight against racism and opened doors for further civil rights
advancements (Western Governors University, 2020, Lesson 14).
A3.
After the Civil Rights Act was passed, the government created the Voting Rights Act of
1965 to deal with the ongoing issue of voter discrimination. This law worked to remove
unfair obstacles like literacy tests and poll taxes that had stopped many Black Americans
from being able to vote. It also allowed the federal government to watch over voting
practices in places with a history of discrimination. Because of this law, more African
Americans were able to register and vote, making it one of the strongest civil rights laws
ever made (Western Governors University, 2020, Lesson 15).
