Skip to main content
Please enter a legal issue and/or a location
Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select

Civil Rights Quiz (with Answers)

Test your knowledge of civil rights with this 10-question quiz, which covers the Civil Rights Movement, important court decisions, and laws protecting peoples' civil rights. Click here to view the quiz without the answers.

1. On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of what Washington, D.C. location?

a) The White House b) The Lincoln Memorial c) The U.S. Capitol d) The U.S. Supreme Court building

Answer: B

2. In 1890, which was the first state in the Union to grant women the right to vote?

a) California b) Wyoming c) Massachusetts d) Rhode Island

Answer: B

3. Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees due process and equal protection rights to all citizens?

a) The 14th Amendment b) The 15th Amendment c) The 16th Amendment d) The 17th Amendment

Answer: A

4. True or False: During World War II more than 100,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast were forced by the U.S. government to leave their homes and were moved to "interment" or "relocation" camps.

Answer: True

5. The historic 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education:

a) Guaranteed the right to vote to all U.S. citizens b) Prohibited racial segregation in public schools c) Defined sexual harassment as a form of unlawful gender discrimination d) Recognized flag burning as protected under the First Amendment

Answer: B

6. Rosa Parks's arrest after her refusal to move to the back of a bus triggered a citywide boycott of what city's bus system?

a) Atlanta, Georgia b) Charleston, South Carolina c) Memphis, Tennessee
d) Montgomery, Alabama

Answer: D

7. The Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects persons with disabilities from discrimination in many aspects of life -- including employment, education, and access to buildings and businesses -- was signed into law in:

a) 1970 b) 1980 c) 1990 d) 2000

Answer: C

8. True or False: The Equal Rights Amendment, passed by Congress in 1971 and explicitly guaranteeing equality to all persons, regardless of gender, was later signed into law.

Answer: False. The Equal Rights Amendment did not receive enough votes for ratification by the individual states, and was never signed into law.

9. The Family and Medical Leave Act, passed in 1993, gives most employees the right to take time off in order to care for:

a) A newborn child b) A recently adopted child c) An ill family member d) All of the above

Answer: D

10. In 2000, which U.S. state became the first to offer "civil unions" to same-sex couples, a legally-recognized relationship status that provides many of the same rights as marriage?

a) Hawaii b) New York c) Oregon d) Vermont

Answer: D

Protect Your Civil Rights: Talk to an Attorney About Your Claim

Taking a civil rights quiz provides a lot of knowledge about historic civil rights events. Maybe you are personally impacted by civil rights violations currently. If you believe that your rights have been violated, then take the next step by talking to a civil rights attorney near you.

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help.

Or contact an attorney near you:

Next Steps

Contact a qualified civil rights attorney to help you protect your rights.

Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select

Help Me Find a Do-It-Yourself Solution

Copied to clipboard

Find a Lawyer

More Options