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Dred Scott v. Sanford
Court held that African Americans, as they were not free citizens, held no rights in the court. Also, federal government had no right to regulate slavery in practicing states. African Americans were subject to the greatest abuses of any race in the history of America, and it was ruled that they had no right to challenge their position. This blatant discrimination was acceptable at the time, and made it extremely difficult for African Americans to move forward and work for equal rights. -
Thirteenth Amendment
One of three constitutional amendments passed after the Civil War ended. It forbade slavery and involuntary servitude. This served to protect African Americans from losing their new emancipation as the country moved forward from the Civil War. -
Fourteenth Amendment
One of three constitutional amendments passed after the Civil War ended. "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of the citizens of the United States." This amendment is significant due to the statement of "the equal protection of the laws," which eventually became rationale for making more of the rights protected by the Bill of Rights not only protected from the federal government but also the state governments. -
Fifteenth Amendment
One of three constitutional amendments passed after the Civil War ended. It extended the right to vote to African American men, although the road to equality (and equal voting rights) was far from over. It is notable that, at the time, women of any race still did not have the right to vote. -
Poll taxes
Taxes levied on the right to vote. This method was used by most Southern states in order to prevent African Americans from voting. As the vote could be a powerful tool for African Americans, especially in the South where they made up a significant portion of the population, whites deemed it dangerous and tried to prevent it in a few different ways. -
White primaries
Excluded African Americans from primary elections and deprived them of a voice in the real contests. This method was used by most Southern states in order to prevent African Americans from voting. As the vote could be a powerful tool for African Americans, especially in the South where they made up a significant portion of the population, whites deemed it dangerous and tried to prevent it in a few different ways. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Supreme court case that provided constiutional justification for segregation. Ruled that "equal but separate accomodations for the white and colored races" was legal. This law set up a pattern of inherent racial inequality and discrimination that continued for decades afterwards and was only ended after a bitter struggle on the part of African Americans to have their right to integrate with society as a whole recognized. -
Nineteenth Amendment
Constitutional amendment that guarantees women the right to vote. About fifty years after this right was extended to both African American and white males, women finally gained suffrage. It was a slow process that started out state-by-state until they finally pushed the amendment through Congress so that it encompassed all women of all states. Though not many women started voting immediately, today it is a regarded as an inherent right of all sexes. -
Brown v. Board of Education
School segregation in Topeka, Kansas was inherently unconstitutional because it violated the equal protection guarantee in the Fourteenth amendment. This case marked the end of legal, or de jure, segregation. After this, it was ordered that schools must integrate, or accept both African American and white students, regardless of race. The practice of busing students as to further integration was also taken up in some cases. -
Twenty-fourth Amendment
The constitutional amendment that decalred poll taxes void. This helped further African American suffrage. Up to this point, poll taxes were enacted in order to limit African Americans from voting. Once these were removed, African American votes increased in number. As a consequence, they were given a stronger voice in government. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Made racial discrimination against any group in public accomodations illegal and forbade many forms of job discrimination. After Brown v. Board of Education, segregation came to be widely recognized as inherently unequal. In order to establish equal rights for African Americans, places that were once segregated (i.e. restaurants, hotels, train cars) were forced to integrate. It was a milestone in the fight for equality. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African American suffrage. Under law, federal registrars were sent to areas that had long histories of discrimination; as a result, hundred of thousand of African Americans were registered. Up to this point, laws were enacted in order to limit African Americans from voting. Once these were removed, African American votes increased in number. As a consequence, there were more African American politicians voted into office. -
Affirmative action
Policy designed to give special attention or compensatory treatment for member of some previously disadvantaged group. In this case, African Americans were given special consideration when applying for a job or higher education. This later turns into a debate as to whether affirmative action is fair for groups that were not previously disadvantaged- i.e. whether special consideration to African Americans during college applications puts whites applying for the same college at a disadvantage. -
Reed v. Reed
Supreme Court, for the first time, upheld a claim of gender discrimination. In a woman's fight for equality, there have been struggles to recognize them as equals in all walks of life. Aside from domestic work, women were thought to not belong in the world of business, or the "man's world." When they did enter this area, they were subject to unequal payment, discrimination, and sexual harassment. This case begins to work in favor of working women. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
A state university could not admit less qualified individuals solely because of their race. Did not rule on affirmative action policies or use of race as criterion for admission. Essentially, affirmative action within admissions was no longer permissable- neither race recieved preferential treatment when applying, and college applications became a more merit-based system rather than factors of skin color or ethnic origin. -
Equal Rights Amendment
A never-passed Constitutional amendment stating that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the U.S. or any state on account of sex." If passed, it could've been a milestone in the women's struggle for equality, especially outside of the household in areas where they were previously disadvantaged or discriminated against (i.e. education, workplace, etc.). However, it never passed and it is still debated today as to whether it should be or if it is necessary. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of a Georgia law against sodomy in private between consenting adults. This was a strike against homosexuals, who even in private could not engage in these activities under the law. The cultural discrimination against it led this decision. This case struck a blow not only against gay rights but also against the right privacy and to engage in certain consensual sexual practices. -
Americans With Disabilities Act
Requires employers and public facilities to amke "reasonable accommodations" for people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination in employment. Previously, a disability- especially a physical one- made it extremely difficult for a person to get a job. This discrimination not only occurred in likely places- physical labor, such as construction, and so forth- but also in business, etc. This act gave disabled people a much better chance at leading productive, happy, equal lives. -
Lawrence v. Texas
Court struck down the sodomy law in Texas and in thirteen other states, making same-sex sexual activity legal in every U.S. state. This was beneficial to gay rights, because by extension, homosexuality was no longer recognized formally as "illegal"- though there was still heavy social discrimination. Though the struggle for gay rights continues today- mostly with the right to marriage- this was a huge step forward for homosexuals to engage in consensual amorous activities. -
Fisher v. University of Texas
The Supreme Court ruled again on affirmative action practices by universities, stating that race had a role, however a limited one, in applications. There has still been no definite ruling as to whether or not affirmative action is legal in the case of college applications; however, it is widely recognized that discrimination based on race is considered wrong. It will be left up to the future court whether affirmative action is still relevant and necessary today.
