Guided Notes:

The Fight for Equality in the Courts and Ballot Box

Essential Question:
What is the significance of Loving v Virginia, Regents of the University of Bakke,
California Proposition 209, and Grutter v Bollinger?

How do these examples point to the continued battle for equal rights for African
Americans?

Educational Hook: Respond to the following quote and questions in complete

sentences.
According to Alexander Hamilton in Federalist Paper 78, “The Judiciary…has no
influence over either the sword or the purse; no direction either of the strength or
the wealth of society and can take no active resolution whatever. It may truly be
said to have neither force nor will.”

- Do you think Alexander Hamilton’s ideas about the courts still hold true
today? Why or why not? Try to connect this to what you may know from
current events.
- Use the rest of the page to construct your response.
Loving v Virginia (1967): Fill out the chart and the questions that follow.
Summarize the points made in the lecture within the chart. Do not just copy the
PowerPoint, these should be short enough to fit within boxes.
The Facts of the case: The Question for the Supreme
Court:

The Road to the Highest Court: The Ruling:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Create a visual that will help you

remember an important part of the case.
Keep it simple.

Now you try!

How does this case work to expand the power of the 14th Amendment? What
kind impact do you think this could have beyond interracial marriage?
 Hint: The picture on the left may be a good picture to use for your visual
Regents of the University of California Bakke (1978): Fill out the chart and the questions that
follow. Summarize the points made in the lecture within the chart. Do not just copy the
PowerPoint, these should be short enough to fit within boxes.
The Facts of the case: The Question for the
Supreme Court:

The Road to the Highest The Ruling:

Court:
1.
2.
3.

Create a visual that will help you

remember an important part of the
case. Keep it simple.

Now you try!

Knowing what you do about the history of the treatment of minorities in
general within the United States, do you think affirmative action is a fair
retribution? Should schools do more or less to help minority students? Do
they have the responsibility to step in in this manner?
Regents of the University of California Bakke (1978): Fill out the chart and the questions that
follow. Summarize the points made in the lecture within the chart. Do not just copy the
PowerPoint, these should be short enough to fit within boxes.

The Facts of the Intiative:

The Question:

To the People
The Ruling:
To the People
- Instead of going to the courts this
went to the ______ __ ________
- This was proposed in response to
_______ immigration.

Create a visual that will help you

remember an important part of the
case. Keep it simple.

Now you try!

According to the graph below, describe the impact Proposition 209 had on
freshman enrollment. Does this surprise you? Why or why not?
Grutter v Bollinger (2003): Fill out the chart and the questions that follow. Summarize the
points made in the lecture within the chart. Do not just copy the PowerPoint, these should be
short enough to fit within boxes.

Describe the facts of the case:

Question for Supreme Court:

Video Notes: Jot down the steps it took for Grutter v Bollinger to reach the
Supreme Court
-

The Road to the Highest Court: Create your own visual representation of the
Road to the Highest Court. You can model your representation after the cartoon
associated with Bakke or the flow charts used for both Bakke and Loving. Here is
a template for the flow chart for you to use.

The Ruling:
1. The court ruled that the school ______ _____ violated the Equal Protection
Clause of the 14th Amendment.
2. The court noted that the Law School’s admissions were ________ _______
in the use of race, providing a ______ ________ for the educational benefits
of a diverse student body.
3. The _______ ______ allows for affirmative action, but _______ can still
restrict it.

Now you try!

How does Grutter v Bollinger fit within California Proposition 209? Why can
they exist at the same time if Grutter allows for affirmative action?

Culminating Activity:

Complete a Venn Diagram that Compares and Contrasts two of the Court Cases or
Laws discussed. IF you use loving, focus on its connection to the 14th
Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.
 Culminating Question:
What do these court cases tell you about the continued struggle for equal rights for
African Americans and minorities more broadly? Discuss with a partner the impact
of affirmative action and the expansion of the equal protection clause of the 14th
Amendment.