-
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was a former slave resided in the free state of Illinois. He went back to to court to get his freedom from his slave owner Sandford. The court said that African Americans cannot be citizens, therefore they don't have any rights. This case established that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865 which outlawed the use of slavery or servitude in the United States. Though slaves were considered free they didn't have equal rights as white Americans. There were many state laws that were passed to limit the voice of African Americans. Till this day African Americans face injustice throughout their day to day life. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, which said that the states could not make any law that go against the rights of any citizen. This has allowed the Supreme Court to decide many cases because they apply the 14th to support their reasoning. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment was ratified in 1869 granted African American men the right to vote. Although they were given the right to vote they were many state laws that were passed to limit the amount of African American voters. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
In the Supreme Court case Plessy was arrested for sitting in the white only section on a bus. The court found him guilty and Plessy went to the Supreme Court to see if it violated the 14th Amendment. The court said that it was constitutional. This case established the precedent of separate but equal further making segregation laws stronger in the southern states. -
White Primaries
White primaries were primary elections held in the Southern United States in which only white voters were permitted to participate. This gave the white population of the state to be the majority in all the decision making for the state. It was a way that states limited the votes of African Americans in the United States. -
19th Amendment
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. This gave women the right to vote. It was a huge step into equality between men and women, but there were many more steps to take in order for this to happen. The women's rights movement saw this as a hige step to greatness. -
Poll Taxes
A poll tax, also known as head tax or capitation, is a tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable individual, without reference to income or resources. Poll taxes limited may blacks from voting because they couldn't afford it and this also connects to the other forms of ways that states added to registration to vote in a way to limit the amount of Black voters. -
Brown v. Board of Education
In Brown v. Board of Education multiple Black students across many southern states were rejected from going to white schools because of segregation. The families took it to the Supreme Court and they found it unconstitutional. This case set the precedent of Separate but equal is unconstitutional. -
24th Amendment
The 24th Amendment was ratified in 1964 which prohibited any poll tax in elections for federal officers. The poll tax limited the amount of citizens that voted, but since the 24th the amount of voters has increased drastically. The 24th ended many limitations that states specifically had so that African American voters wouldn't vote. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark civil rights and labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. This is important because it prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and federally funded programs. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. The act allowed for a quarter of a million new Black voters had been registered, one-third by federal examiners. But many states found ways around this through poll taxes and literacy test. -
Affirmative Action
Also known as, Positive discrimination, involves sets of policies and practices within a government or organization seeking to include particular groups based on their gender, race, sexuality, creed or nationality in areas in which such groups are underrepresented. This reduces discrimination in education and employment settings across America. -
Reed v. Reed
The son of the Reed family passed away and his estate was to be given to the father because under Illinois law it can't be given to a woman. The mother took it to court and the Supreme Court found it unconstitutional because there shouldn't be any laws making dissimilar treatment between men and women. This case made a huge improvment to women rights in the 70's. -
The Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. This actually ever became an Amendment it made it to congress and they proposed it and it passed the vote, but not enough states said yes in order for it to become an Amendment. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Bakke applied two times and was rejected both times. He found out that the school reserved 15 spots for minority students to give minorities a chance. Most of the students had lower test scores than Bakke and he felt that he was being rejected because of his race. He took it to the Supreme Court and they said that the school should enroll Bakke to the school. But there was no majority opinion. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Hardwick was caught having sexual activates with another man which was illegal in the state of Georgia. He was arrested and Hardwick took it to the Supreme Court to see if the state had the right to arrest him. The court said that the state had a right because nowhere in the constitution does it say it is protected. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. This act imporved many disabled people's lives in many ways. They are able to do more things and its easier to do task than what they were before. -
Motor Voter Act
The Motor Voter Act also known as the National Voter Registration Act was created to set forth certain requirements for respect for federal office elections. But all but six states fall into this act because those six have no requirement's on voting in their states. So, this act protects people's rights when their are requirements when voting. -
Lawrence v. Texas
Police entered a home in response to a weapon disturbance and found Lawrence having intercourse with a man, which was illegal in Texas, so he was arrested. He took it to the Supreme Court saying that his 14th Amendment right of equal and protection of the law was violated. The Supreme Court said that it violated the Due Process clause of the 14th Amendment. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Groups of same-sex couples sued their states for not allowing them to get married and said that it violated the equal protection clause and the Due Process clause of the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court said that states must allow same-sex marriages in their states and that they must classify them as a legally licensed marriage.