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Dred Scott v. Stanford
Decided that moving states did not free Dred Scott, a slave, ruled that Africans were property, not citizens -
13th Amendment
No more slavery in all rebelling states, eventually all states period -
14th Amendment
States had to adhere to Constitutional rights too, including the Bill of Rights -
Poll Tax
Required all voters to pay a tax to vote - ended up discriminatory because grandfather clauses enabled poor whites to vote but didn't enable poor blacks. -
White Primaries
Elections in the South where only white voters could participate to suppress freedmen -
15th Amendment
All races can vote as long as they are citizens -
Plessy v. Fergusen
Made the "separate but equal" ruling, effectively legalizing segregation -
19th Amendment
The right to vote was extended to all genders -
Brown v. Topeka Board of Education
Ruled that "separate but equal" was unconstitutional in schools and mandated integration, and overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, an early push towards desesegregation. -
24th Amendment
No more poll tax to vote -
Civil Rights Act
Eliminated all discrimination based on race, religion, or gender. Basically supposed to be the end of segregation and discrimination. -
Voting Rights Act
Outlawed discriminatory voting practices, such as literacy tests and grandfather clauses -
Reed v. Reed
Ruled that discrimination on account of gender is unconstitutional -
Equal Rights Amendment
A proposed amendment to give equality to all genders, struck down by opposition -
Affirmative Action
Reserving seats or positions for minorities, particularly people of color -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Ruled that affirmative action wasn't allowed but race could be considered for admissions to school -
Bowers v. Hardick
Ruled that sodomy was not protected by the constitution -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Protects people from disabilities from discrimination and makes it easier for them to coexist in society -
Motor Voter Act
Citizens can register to vote when they get a driver's license -
Lawrence v. Texas
Ruled that two consenting adults were free to do whatever they pleased, overruling Bowers v. Hardick. -
Obergefell v, Hodges
Ruled that same-sex marriage is legal and has to be accepted by all states