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Dres Scott v. Stanford
Dred Scott was a slave, He sued for his freedom in the St. Louis city court. He had lived in slave states, but had also lived in the free Territory of Wisconsin. It turned into an 11 year battle and the case made its way to the Supreme Court. In March 1857, when in the high court Chief Justice Roger B. read the majority opinion that stated slaves were not citizens of the US and therefore could not expect any protection from the federal government. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment stated "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Formally abolishing slavery in the United States! -
14th Amendment
Known as a Resconstruction Amendmendment, the 14th it permited citizenship to slaves that were recently freed and gave them equal protection of the laws. Most commonly remembered by the idea that states may not deny any person of "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment granted male African Americans the right to vote. With that, becasue there were alot of people against this, afican americans were threated, scared, and humilated to be talked out of using this right. They were also haulted by literacy test and grandfather clauses. All of these were set in place, bending the laws. they technically were legal but were just ways of making African Americans inferior and unable to have a say about the governent of the United States. -
Poll Taxes
between 1889 and 1910 poll taxes were strongly enacted in southern states. They were used as a disadvantage to African Americans when it came to voting. These were fees placed before one could vote though were made to direct Afircan Americans whom could not afford them. Poll taxes was an electoral law similar in purpose as the literacy test and grandfather clause. -
White Primary
White primaries were "primary" elections held in southen states that only white voters were allowed to participate in. This tatic was effective because of the seemingly one party political system that lived in the south. In order to keep out african americans or limit their part in the political system the Democratic party, popular in the south created rules to exclude them from membership -
Plessy v. Ferguson
key words: seperate-but-equal. this case involved Homer Plessy ( a 1/8th african american male) going to jail for sitting on a white car of a rail road. after this case was decided public railroads were required to have sperate but equal facilities for whites and african americans. States were allowed to have placed distinguished by race, as long as they were equal quality. -
19t Amendment
The 19th amendemnt granted the right to vote to American women. This right was known as woman suffrage. At this time women did not share alot of the rights that men did so gaining the right to participate in election was a big step towards equality. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This Supreme Court case was landmark because it declared seperate schools for blacks and whites, were infact, unconstitutional. This case essentially overturned the decision made in the Plessy v. Ferguson case involving "seperate but equal" -
Affirmative Action
FIrst mentioned by JFK but was enfource by President Johnson. the timline of this action was the process of redressing discrimination. They are policies where a group or organization actively acts to improve opportunities for discriminated/excluded/minority groups in America. -
24th Amendment
THe 24th amendment outlowed poll taxes in the voting process when regarding federal elections. The taxes were often used as a way to discourage and prevent African Americans from being able to vote, they were out lawed to ensure no one's vote was dismissed simply because they could not afford to have a voice. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The civil RIghts Act of 1964 was placed to end discimination in the work place. This included places of public education and public accomodations. The goverenment basically ruled any place engaged in interstate commerce, making that essentially everywhere. The act not nly made it clear employers could not discriminate against different skin color but alos on sex, religion, race, or national origin. -
Voting Acts Right of 1965
This act was signed in by President Johnson after the assasination of JFK. This act was made to enusre no discrimination against African Americans was made during the voting process on federal, state, or local levels. -
Equal Rights Amendment
"Equality of rights under the law shall not be abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." there is not a sepcific date for this event because it was a timely matter. The biggest move for ERA took place at the begining of the 1970's. Now equality for woman is a great thing but then even some woman were not for woman equality because they believed it would allow them to be drafted, take away from traditionally family living, and disrupt protective laws towards females. -
Reed v. Reed
This case was the first to state sex discrimination a violation of the 14th amendment. It began in Idaho and addressed one of thier probate laws that they ruled was allowing unequal preference/treatment of women and men was a violation of the constitution. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
When applying to the medical school at University of California he had test scores and a GPA that exceed the requirments, but fter being rejected twice Bakke went to the courts and argued he was being discriminated on due to the basis of his race. there were spots reserved for minorities but because he was more qualified he felt it was unfair he was not being accepted. The court ordered Bakke to be accepted. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Hardwick was arrested for having consintual sex with another adult male. He was arrested due to the fact that sexual activity between two people of the same sex, was not permitted under the states Sodomy law. Hardwick appealed his charge saying it was a violation of his cinstitutional rights. the court ruled in favor of Georgia saying the 14th amendment did not protect homosexuals. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
This act prohibited discrimination towards those with disabilities when it came to things like employment, government activities, and public accomodations. this act includes protection for those with specific physical or mental disabilities. -
Lawrence v. Texas
Supreme Court case that removed a sodomy law in texas. similar to Bowers v. Hardwick but with a different ruling. two adult males were caught during sexually activity. the court ruled the arrest was in contrast of the Due Process Clause.
