Do You Know Your Rights? (U.S.) Quiz

Answer: 18 year-olds

The 26th amendment lowering the voting age was ratified on July 1, 1971. Women's suffrage came in 1920, and race was "theoretically" no longer a consideration as of 1870. However, African Americans were still disenfranchised from the process by phony "literacy tests" and other obstacles of that nature until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Any immigrant person can vote once becoming a citizen.

Answer: Buy alcohol

The 21st Amendment ended almost fifteen years of Prohibition, which only increased the amount of corruption in major cities where speakeasies operated. You still must be 21 years old to drink, but only 18 to serve in the military. Many Americans feel this is wrong, to be allowed to possibly die for one's country and for three years not be allowed to have a beer in it, but few politicians would want to get behind a bill to change that law.

Answer: Illinois

In 1955, Emmett Till, a 14 year-old boy from Chicago, Illinois was visiting relatives in Mississippi when he was murdered for speaking (just speaking) to a "white" woman in a grocery store. He was found murdered by the woman's husband and brother-in-law days later. This sparked long-overdue outrage across the country.

Answer: The Stonewall Inn

It happened on the last Sunday in June, which is now when most Gay Pride parades across the country are held. The history of gay rights is often divided into "Before Stonewall" and "After Stonewall."

Answer: Montgomery, Alabama

Whoopi received her Academy Award for "Ghost" the following spring. Some people feel her appearance in this film also helped her chances of winning it. Incidentally, Rosa Parks turned 90 in 2003!

Answer: Elizabeth Taylor

A person must be born a U.S. citizen and have lived here 14 years to be president. In 1941, Ann-Margaret was born to Swedish parents in Stockholm, moving to America at age 5. Olivia Newton-John was born in England and raised in Australia. Angelina Jolie, born in California 1975, was not old enough to become president in 2008 (must be 35).

This would have left the 76-year-old Elizabeth Taylor. She was born in England in 1932 BUT her parents were Americans (abroad temporarily), making her a citizen at birth, and our sole choice for president in 2008!

Answer: Have ever been convicted of a felony?

We've all seen this one on job applications. The others are a violation of your privacy, and have nothing to do with your ability to perform any job. The working on Sunday question cannot include an inquiry about your religious affiliation. The medication question is in conflict with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For more information, check out the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website, www.eeoc.gov.

Answer: none

All they had to do was pay their lawyers. The key words here are "in Florida in 1991". Then, fewer than ten states included sexual orientation with race, religion, and gender in their protections. Congress voted on the Employment Non-Discrimiation Act (ENDA) in 1996, but it did not pass.

In fact, even Sonny Bono and Newt Gingrich voted against it, despite having a gay daughter and sister, respectively. Shame on them. Finally, in November 2002, after years of bad publicity, Cracker Barrel changed its policy, with shareholders voting unanimously to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

It only took eleven years! Florida still offers no protection though, neither did thirty-seven other states in 2003, although some of their individual counties did.

Answer: Norma McCorvey

In the 1980s, Norma McCorvey told her story in a book, "I am Roe." But in 1995, she did an about face and joined the anti-choice movement after meeting an Operation Rescue leader outside a clinic where she worked, then joining his church. (She has also stated she changed her view after seeing an empty playground.)

Answer: True

Julia is never wrong! The case that overturned it was Lawrence and Gardner vs. Texas, June 26, 2003. It granted the right to privacy. Before then, people could be arrested for what they did behind closed doors (in thirteen states!). Hopefully these questions have made you think about you freedoms. Thanks for playing!