Civil Rights

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Jan 1, 1857

Said black people couldn’t sue for citizenship because they weren’t citizens.

13th Amendment

Dec 18, 1865

Formally abolished slavery. President Lincoln pushed for this at the end

14th Amendment

Jul 9, 1868

Legally gave equality to all african americans. This wan't actually the case because some things were left up to the states, however the intention was to give them equal citizenship.This also played an important later on in gaining otehr types of civil rights.

15th Amendment

Feb 3, 1870

You cannot be denied voting rights to any man. Emphasis on the man part.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Mar 1, 1896

Upheld separate but equal. This said that segregation was constitutional as long as the seperate fasilities were of equal standards. This part was completely ignored, as the colored side to things were run down and heavily under funded.

Poll Taxes

Mar 1, 1917

Gave a fee for Black people in the south in order to vote. They were able to keep this legal for a time by giving this to everyone./ However they did put in place a law that helped out poor white people by using the grandfather clause. This meant that if your grandfather could vote than you didn't have to pay any poll taxes. And the African AMericans didn't have any family memebrs that could vote.

White Primaries

Feb 27, 1920

This gave only white people the ability to vote in primary elections. This kept African Americans out of office.

19th Amendment

Aug 18, 1920

This gave women the right to vote. It gave them what the 15th amendment gave african americans, However this amandement was welcomed with less resistance.

Brown v. Board of Education

May 17, 1954

Black kids could go to white schools because the “equal but separate” wasn’t equal at all. Also said that this seperation of race was affecting the children's physiological health. The court said that this gave colored students less motivation to succeed.

Affirmative Action

Mar 6, 1961

Government funded places couldn’t be racist. Gave minorities more oppertunities and kind of forced the no segregation further onto buisnesses.

24th Amendment

Jan 23, 1964

Got rid of the Jim crow laws. Set up a more standard voting porcess and voting registration. This was in responce to the civil rights movemnet.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Jul 2, 1964

Basically abolished the segregation. Used interstate commerce. THis was something most every buisness is involved in. The United States government used this to stop segregation on a national scale.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Aug 6, 1965

Ended Jim Crow laws in the south. This established a standardized and nonbias voting system. Also in responce to the civil rights movemnet.

Equal Rights Amendment

Mar 22, 1972

Gave woman equal rights under the law.

Reed v. Reed-

Jul 1, 1972

Couple sued each other over sons estate . Law said men got it over women. Wife sued saying that is was sexist. Said preferring men over a woman was unconstitutional.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

Mar 1, 1978

Upheld affirmative action. 35 year old white man applied to a college twice and was denied. The man claimed that he wasn't accepted because he was white. He claimed they were more concerned with the admitance of minorities to meet the standards of Affermative action.

Bowers v. Hardwick

Mar 1, 1986

There was a law saying no gay sex was allowed. Court upheld it.Later on the court decided againt the this case in a similar case.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Jul 26, 1990

Discouraged wrong treatment of people with disabilities. Same basis as the no segregation in the south. Used innerstate commerce.

Lawrence v. Texas

Jun 26, 2003

Lawrence v. Texas was a court case where the Supreme Court decided that sodomy laws were unconsititutional. Police could no longer arrest homosexuals for engaging in gay sexual intercourse.