Protecting the Rights of the People

In this activity, you will read two primary and two secondary sources of information on the topic of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. As you read, complete the graphic organizer comparing and contrasting the information provided by the four sources. You will note both the similarities and differences in the information and treatment of the topic.

Download the following graphic organizer and readings to use in the activity that follows.

Graphic Organizer for Try It

Comparing and Contrasting Sources on the Topic of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Graphic Organizer

Readings on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Secondary Source #1: Excerpts from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Website

Secondary Source #2: Excerpts from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Webpage

Primary Source #1: Eighty-eighth Congress of the United States of America: At the Second Session

Primary Source #2: Excerpts from the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Complete the graphic organizer using information gathered from the readings. When you have entered all the information into the graphic organizer, select Show Answer to review the accurate responses.

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Comparing and Contrasting Sources on the Topic of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Completed Graphic Organizer

What conclusions can you make about the information presented or the treatment of the primary and secondary sources on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission?

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All four sources of information state that the purpose of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is to prevent job discrimination. The primary source information lists race, color, religion, national origin and sex as characteristics protected from discrimination by federal law. The secondary sources 1 and 2 are more recent sources of information, and both list additional protected characteristics such as family medical history, age and genetic information. This indicates that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has been modified over time to include additional protections against discrimination.