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Concepts
Civil rights and civil liberties are distinct concepts based on their applications and definition in the context of ordinary life. In that way, civil liberties acknowledge fundamental human rights, such as the right to freedom of speech, privacy, marriage. On the other hand, civil rights constitute the rights of social equality and protection despite ones race, gender, or any other characteristic. Civil rights are primarily addressed in the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Unlike civil rights, the U.S. Constitution addresses civil liberties in the Bill of Rights.
The Abington School District v. Schempp Case
The selected Supreme Court cases concern the First Amendment, including the civil liberty of freedom of religion and the Fourteenth Amendment concerning racial discrimination. The first case, Abington School District v. Schempp, occurred in 1963 and claimed the unconstitutional incorporation of Bible readings in a Pennsylvania public school (Dreisbach & Hall, 2019). The Supreme Court justices decided to hear the case presumably because it clearly contradicted the First Amendment in religious expression and protection. The Court emphasized the importance of its neutrality in terms of religion and decided in favor of the respondent (Dreisbach & Hall, 2019). As the Pennsylvania law previously supported mandatory Biblical readings in schools, this case recognized such legislation as unconstitutional and led to further amendments.
The Loving v. Virginia Case
The second case, Loving v. Virginia in 1967, included an interracial marriage that violated Virginias laws in the circumstances of racial division in the U.S. (Small, 2018). The case appeared essential for review by the Supreme Court justices because it presented the married couples initial verdict as the result of racial prejudice solely. In the end, the Courts decision acknowledged the married couples innocence, supported by the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution (Small, 2018). Furthermore, although the case worked in favor of the innocent, the anti-miscegenation laws which prevented interracial marriage were still valid in Virginia for several years afterward.
The Impact of the Cases
The impact of the cases on U.S. society is evident through the controversial reactions of both following the official decisions. The success of the initial respondents demonstrated how the national legislative system protects basic human rights. The Supreme Court decisions later contributed to more citizens in various circumstances vocalizing the need for freedom of religion and marriage between all races. These particular cases inspired U.S. citizens to fight for their rights and significantly impacted the countrys current legislative system.
References
Dreisbach, D., & Hall, M.D. (2019). Great Christian jurists in American history (law and Christianity). Cambridge University Press.
Small, C. (2018). Interracial marriage: Loving v. Virginia. Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC.
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