Affirmative Action: History and Supreme Court Rulings

CrashCourse

This episode of Crash Course Government and Politics provides a comprehensive overview of affirmative action in the United States, exploring its definition, legal history, and the intense political debate surrounding it. Host Craig Benzine navigates the complex topic by focusing on how the Supreme Court has interpreted affirmative action policies through the lens of the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. The video distinguishes between "equality of opportunity" and "equality of outcome" and uses analogies to explain the differing perspectives on these policies. The content dives deep into landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped current laws, specifically Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1973), Adarand Constructors v. Peña (1995), and the 2003 Michigan cases (Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger). It explains critical legal concepts like "strict scrutiny," "compelling government interest," and "narrowly tailored" policies. Additionally, it covers state-level reactions, such as California's Proposition 209, and analyzes the statistical impact of these bans on university enrollment. For educators, this video is an invaluable resource for teaching the judicial branch, civil rights, and constitutional interpretation. It models civil discourse on a polarized issue by presenting legal facts and historical context without taking a partisan stance. It serves as an excellent primer for classroom debates on admissions policies, discussions on the role of government in correcting historical wrongs, and lessons on how the Supreme Court balances individual rights against state interests.