United States Civil Rights Quiz

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| By Catherine Halcomb
Catherine Halcomb
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  • 1/10 Questions

    In its decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court overruled _____________ and the "separate but equal" doctrine.

    • Plessy v. Ferguson
    • Brown v. Board of Education
    • Loving v. Virginia
    • Cumming v. Richmond County Board of Education
    • Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
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About This Quiz

Explore key moments in U. S. Civil rights history with this quiz. Questions cover landmark Supreme Court cases, immigration laws, and disability rights, assessing knowledge of pivotal legal decisions and their impacts.

United States Civil Rights Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    Which of the following are statutory requirements for naturalization?

    • Five years' residency (three, if married to a citizen)

    • Good moral character

    • Attachment to constitutional principles

    • Disposition to the good order of the United States

    • All of the above are true.

    Correct Answer
    A. All of the above are true.
    Explanation
    The question asks about the statutory requirements for naturalization. The given options include five years' residency (three if married to a citizen), good moral character, attachment to constitutional principles, and disposition to the good order of the United States. The correct answer states that all of the above options are true, indicating that all of these requirements are indeed statutory requirements for naturalization.

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  • 3. 

    In the immediate aftermath of Brown v. Board of Education, southern resistance to school integration quickly collapsed.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    The statement is false because the immediate aftermath of Brown v. Board of Education did not lead to a quick collapse of southern resistance to school integration. In fact, southern states actively resisted the ruling and implemented various strategies to maintain segregation in schools, such as closing down schools or using legal loopholes. It took many years of legal battles, protests, and federal intervention before significant progress was made in desegregating schools in the South.

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  • 4. 

    In 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act granted amnesty and citizenship to illegal aliens who

    • Received college diplomas.

    • Remained employed for more than one year.

    • Voted in all state and local elections.

    • Resided continuously in this country since January 1, 1982.

    • Worked in a job vital to the nation.

    Correct Answer
    A. Resided continuously in this country since January 1, 1982.
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "resided continuously in this country since January 1, 1982." The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 granted amnesty and citizenship to illegal aliens who met certain criteria. One of the criteria was that they had to have resided continuously in the country since January 1, 1982. This means that they had to have lived in the country without leaving for any extended period of time since that date.

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  • 5. 

    The Supreme Court first found a "right to privacy" in the _______________ case.

    • Griswold

    • Roe

    • Webster

    • Casey

    • Gonzales

    Correct Answer
    A. Griswold
    Explanation
    The correct answer is Griswold. In the Griswold case, the Supreme Court recognized a "right to privacy" as it struck down a Connecticut law that prohibited the use of contraceptives. The Court held that the law violated the right to marital privacy, even though it was not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. This landmark decision laid the foundation for future cases involving privacy rights, including the Roe v. Wade case which established a woman's right to choose to have an abortion.

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  • 6. 

    The Supreme Court ruled in the Bakke case that

    • Explicit numerical quotas are illegal.

    • Busing is a legitimate tool to achieve racial balance.

    • Race should be taken into account when quotas are used.

    • Affirmative action programs are unlawful.

    • Affirmative action plans cannot include firings.

    Correct Answer
    A. Explicit numerical quotas are illegal.
    Explanation
    The Supreme Court ruled in the Bakke case that explicit numerical quotas are illegal. This means that colleges and universities cannot set a specific number or percentage of students from certain racial or ethnic backgrounds that must be admitted. The court found that such quotas violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which prohibits discrimination based on race. However, the court did uphold the use of race as a factor in admissions decisions, as long as it is used as one of many factors and not as the sole determining factor. This ruling allows for affirmative action programs that aim to promote diversity without using quotas.

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  • 7. 

    One factor helping to break the deadlock that developed in the civil rights movement during the early 1960s was the

    • Media coverage of violence by white segregationists.

    • Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education.

    • Decentralization of power in the House and Senate.

    • Civil unrest that shook several northern cities.

    • Election of Republican presidents.

    Correct Answer
    A. Media coverage of violence by white segregationists.
    Explanation
    The media coverage of violence by white segregationists helped break the deadlock in the civil rights movement during the early 1960s because it exposed the brutality and injustice of segregation to a wider audience. The images and stories of peaceful protesters being attacked and oppressed by white supremacists shocked and outraged many Americans, leading to increased support for the civil rights movement. The media coverage also put pressure on government officials to take action and address the issue of racial inequality. This increased awareness and public outcry ultimately helped to bring about significant legislative and social changes.

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  • 8. 

    Under the Defense of Marriage Act, signed by President Clinton

    • No state could legalize gay marriage.

    • No state could modify the definition of marriage in any significant way.

    • States that allowed gay marriages would lose federal funds.

    • No state would be forced to recognize a same-sex marriage performed in another state.

    • Gays and lesbians could marry in federal courts.

    Correct Answer
    A. No state would be forced to recognize a same-sex marriage performed in another state.
    Explanation
    The Defense of Marriage Act, signed by President Clinton, stated that no state would be forced to recognize a same-sex marriage performed in another state. This means that even if a same-sex couple legally married in one state, other states were not obligated to recognize their marriage. This provision of the act aimed to limit the recognition and legal rights of same-sex marriages, effectively denying them the same benefits and protections afforded to opposite-sex marriages.

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  • 9. 

    In a 2003 case involving admissions practices at the University of Michigan, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its decision in Bakke by rejecting the use of

    • A numerical goal.

    • An exact numerical advantage.

    • A plus factor.

    • A racial measure.

    • An ethnic policy mark.

    Correct Answer
    A. An exact numerical advantage.
    Explanation
    In the 2003 case involving admissions practices at the University of Michigan, the Supreme Court rejected the use of an exact numerical advantage. This means that the court did not support giving a specific numerical advantage to applicants based on their race or ethnicity. Instead, the court reaffirmed its decision in Bakke, which stated that race could be considered as a plus factor in admissions decisions, but not as the sole determining factor. The court's decision aimed to strike a balance between promoting diversity and ensuring equal treatment for all applicants.

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  • 10. 

    Unlike the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) considers

    • The impact on local communities.

    • Qualifications and standards.

    • Quotas.

    • Reverse discrimination.

    • Excessive costs and undue hardships.

    Correct Answer
    A. Excessive costs and undue hardships.
    Explanation
    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) differs from the Civil Rights Act in that it takes into account the potential burden of excessive costs and undue hardships that may be imposed on businesses or organizations in order to accommodate individuals with disabilities. This means that while the ADA aims to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities, it also recognizes the need to balance those rights with the practical limitations that may arise in certain situations. This consideration of excessive costs and undue hardships sets the ADA apart from the Civil Rights Act and ensures a more comprehensive approach to addressing disability rights.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 06, 2025
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Apr 13, 2016
    Quiz Created by
    Catherine Halcomb
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