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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Supreme Court ruled that Americans of African families were not American citizens. This meant they could not sue in federal court. This was true whether they were free or slaves. -
13th Amendment
The formal abolition of slavery in the United States. Only ended slavery in which case one person is considered the personal property of another. -
14th Amendment
Grants citizenship to all who are born or naturalized in the United States. This includes formerly enslaved people. It also provided everyone with equal protection under the laws. -
15th Amendment
Guarantees African American men the right to vote. Soon after ratification, African Americans began to take roles in running for office & voting. -
Jim Crow Era
Introduction of state & local laws that enforced racial segregation. "Jim Crow" was a pejorative term for African Americans. Some of these specific laws remained in force in the southern states until the 1960s. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
A landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that racial segregation laws did not violate the Constitution as long as the facilities for each race were equal in quality. "Separate but equal" term came into use. -
Nineteenth Amendment
Makes it illegal to deny the right to vote to any citizen based on gender. Essentially granted women the right to vote. Introduced into Congress in 1878, finally being certified in 1920. -
Brown v. Board of Education
A landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court ruled state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional. This even included schools that were otherwise equal in quality. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
A landmark civil rights & labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, & national origin. It also prohibits segregation in businesses such as theaters, restaurants, & hotels. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Prohibits states from imposing qualifications to deny the right to vote due to a person's race. It also permitted direct federal intervention in the electoral process. -
Affirmative Action
Also known as positive discrimination. Involves policies & practices within a government or organization, to specifically include groups based on their sexuality, gender, or race. -
Reed v. Reed
The Landmark decision of the Supreme Court that established that the administrators of estates cannot be named in a way that discriminates within genders. -
Equal Rights Amendment
A constitutional amendment that guarantees legal gender equality for men & women. Would end legal distinctions in things such as divorce, property, employment, and others. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Supreme Court case that decided a university cannot use race as a definite & exclusive basis for admission. It was decided that it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Landmark decision that decided that there is no constitutional right to privacy for consensual homosexual activity. The decision was 5-4 for Bowers. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
A Civil Rights law that prohibits discrimination based on a person's disability. It gives them the same opportunities as everyone else. -
Motor Voter Act
A bill passed by Congress made it easier for Americans to vote. Also known as the "National Voter Registration Act of 1993". Signed into law by Bill Clinton on May 20, 1993, finally coming into effect on January 1, 1995. -
Lawrence v. Texas
Landmark decision of the Supreme Court in which the court ruled that most rulings of criminal level punishment are unconstitutional in cases of consensual, adult sexual activity. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Obergefell overturned Baker. It requires states to issue marriage licenses to same-gender couples. It established same-gender couples across the United States and its territories.