Answer:
Ever since from its inception, the constitution of the United States has intended to protect a wide set of civil rights and civil liberties. The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791, only four years after the US Constitution became effective. Among the civil rights protected are: freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, right to a fair trial and freedom of religion.
Civil rights have expanded throught american history, and it can be argued that they are far more protected in the 21th century, than they were in the 19th or early 20th century. Perhaps, the greatest expansion came from the civil rights movement of the 1960s, which sought to broaden the rights of African Americans and other minorities.
African Americans did not enjoy the same rights as white americans for most of american history, even if this difference violated the Constitution. The end of segregation, and the fight against many forms of discrimination that resulted from the civil rights movement have helped immensely to protect this minority group.
However, some civil rights have been infriged in recent decades. For example, the right to privacy by the NSA.
In conclusion, there is a clear advancement in the protection of civil rights, but there are still plenty of obstacles and setbacks. It is a citizen duty to be vigilant of possible restrictions on liberty.
