Equal Protection: How the Law Protects Diverse Groups

CrashCourse

This educational video from the Crash Course Government and Politics series explores the expansive reach of the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. While often associated with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the host Craig Benzine explains how legal protections against discrimination have evolved to cover a wide range of groups, including Asian Americans, Latinos, immigrants, Native Americans, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. The video utilizes humor and clear examples to navigate complex legal histories and Supreme Court rulings. The content focuses heavily on the concept of "discrete and insular minorities" and how the judicial system acts to protect groups that may lack the political power to defend themselves through the legislative process alone. Key historical moments are analyzed, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, alongside landmark Supreme Court cases like Wong Kim Ark v. U.S., Lau v. Nichols, and Obergefell v. Hodges. The narrative demonstrates how the definition of "We the People" has legally expanded over time. For educators, this resource serves as an excellent tool for teaching Civil Rights beyond the textbook basics. It helps students understand the mechanisms of legal change—specifically how court decisions interpret the Constitution to apply to modern contexts. It provides a nuanced look at citizenship, the difference between documented and undocumented immigrant rights, and the shifting legal landscape regarding marriage equality and accessibility, making it highly relevant for civics, history, and government classrooms.