Why was the civil rights act considered an expansion of the rights in the U.S political thought?
It reaffirmed the rights granted in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments.
Women were given the right to vote by the passage of the act.
The right to vote was given to citizens who were 18 years old.
It was the first time Indigenous Americans were acknowledged as citizens.
The civil rights act was considered an expansion of rights in U.S political thought for multiple reasons:
1. Reaffirmation of existing rights: The act reinforced and protected the rights granted in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments. These amendments abolished slavery, granted equal protection under the law, and protected voting rights based on race, respectively. By reaffirming these rights, the civil rights act ensured their enforcement and prevented their violation.
2. Women's suffrage: While the act itself did not grant women the right to vote, its passage was a significant step towards achieving women's suffrage. The pressure and activism surrounding the civil rights movement paved the way for the eventual passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, which gave women the constitutional right to vote.
3. Expansion of voting rights: The civil rights act expanded voting rights by lowering the voting age to 18. Previously, several states had set the voting age at 21, but the act standardized it across the country. This expansion of voting rights was seen as a progressive step towards greater inclusion and representation in the political process.
4. Indigenous American citizenship: The civil rights act acknowledged Indigenous Americans as citizens for the first time in U.S history. Prior to the act, Indigenous Americans were often denied citizenship and the rights associated with it. By recognizing Indigenous Americans as citizens, the act aimed to address historical injustices and provide them with the same rights and protections enjoyed by other citizens.
Overall, the civil rights act expanded the rights in U.S political thought by reinforcing existing rights, contributing to the eventual women's suffrage movement, expanding voting rights, and recognizing Indigenous Americans as citizens. These actions aimed to ensure greater equality, inclusion, and protection for all individuals in the United States.