The Civil Rights Cases of 1883 and the Commerce Clause
In the context of the landmark Civil Rights Cases, U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner Peter Kirsanow and Howard Law School Dean Danielle Holley-Walker talked about the legacy of the Reconstruction Amendments. They also discussed how the Commerce Clause, not the Reconstruction Amendments, became the Constitutional basis for future Civil Rights legislation.
Description
In the context of the landmark Civil Rights Cases, U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner Peter Kirsanow and Howard Law School Dean Danielle Holley-Walker talked about the legacy of the Reconstruction Amendments. They also discussed how the Commerce Clause, not the Reconstruction Amendments, became the Constitutional basis for future Civil Rights legislation.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- How was the Civil Rights Act of 1875 similar to the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
- What parts of the Constitution were used to justify the Civil Rights Act of 1964? How was this different than Civil Rights Cases of 1883?
- How did the 1883 Civil Rights Cases impact the enforcement of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments?
Additional Resources
- C-SPAN Landmark Cases: Civil Rights Cases (1883)
- Lesson Plan: Reconstruction Era
This lesson is a collection of video clips highlighting some of the key people, legislation, organizations and events that emerged during this era and made a lasting impact on the country.
Participants
Vocabulary
- 13th Amendment
- 14th Amendment
- Civil Rights Act Of 1964
- Commerce Clause
- Congress
- Constitution
- Jurisprudence
- Reconstruction
- Supreme Court