Civil Liberties, Civil Rights and American Political Parties: Social Sciences Coursework

Civil Liberties, Civil Rights and American Political Parties
Student’s Name
Institution
Course
Professor
Date
Civil Liberties, Civil Rights and American Political Parties
Question 1
In Baron v Baltimore, the court confirmed and clarified the concept of dual citizenship. The concept proposed that every American is a citizen of the federal government, and separately a citizen of one of the states. Through the dual citizenship concept, people enjoyed liberties against the federal government's action and another set of rights against the action of state governments. Through the dual citizenship concept, the citizens of a specific state will enjoy that particular state's privileges and immunities. During the early years, each state developed its policies that applied within the particular jurisdiction. The individual states could only establish the rules of citizenship for states.
In the Fourteenth Amendment, the Federal constitution stated that all persons born and naturalized in the US are US citizens and the state where they live. Through dual citizenship, the early citizens could enjoy as many rights as possible, provided that they were never less than those provided by the federal government. The states were free to determine the legal remedies for their citizens, including the legal relationships and benefits they could receive (Spiro, 2010). The Fourteenth Amendment provided nationalized and incorporated civil liberties that were initially offered by the state alone. This nationalization ensured that all American citizens enjoy fundamental civil rights under the federal constitution. One of the benefits of nationalization is protecting the infringement of fundamental rights by state authorities. It ensures that there is equal protection for all citizens. However, the nationalization limited the state's power to enact regulations that would undermine the federal constitution (Mason, 2011).
Question 2
  Jim Crow laws were state legislation that was enforced in order to perpetuate racial segregation in the southern region of the United States. When the Jim Crow laws were implemented, the southern region had designated areas for whites and people of color. The African Americans who tried to violate the laws were arrested or faced violent punishment. The laws were opposed vehemently during the 1950s (Constitutional Rights Foundation, n.d.). During the 1960s, the civil rights movement played a significant role in dismantling the Jim Crow laws. Legislations passed that illegalized public facilities' segregation, prohibited interracial marriage, and discriminated against the housing. However, even creating legal measures against segregation did not eliminate the unjust and racial prejudice based on color. There were still significant disparities in education, health, employment, incarceration, and wealth accumulation opportunities.
Question 3
Federalism was established in the United States and separated power between the state government and the federal government. States were given the ability to protect their citizens, ensuring that their rights were observed. Many people from the south were slave owners and believed the state laws determined the right to own slaves. Since federalism was ag...