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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri but lived in the free state of Illinois. He was brought back to Missouri where he then sued stating that because he was living in a free state, he was a free man. The federal court ruled that slaves were property under the 5th amendment, therefore no slave owner could be deprived of his property. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment formally abolished slavery stating, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime... shall exist." The amendment was issued under Lincoln's presidency and quickly ratified by 27 states. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S - this included former slaves. This helped further Reconstruction as it established legal and civil rights for African Americans. -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment granted African American men the right to vote. This however didn't stop the unfair treatment black individuals received, such as literacy tests, the grandfather clause, and other methods to restricting voting rights. -
The Jim Crow Era
1877-1964: Jim Crow laws were laws that legalized racial segregation. These laws restricted African Americans the right to vote, obtain a proper education, hold jobs, housing, and segregated public spaces. The goal was to oppress Black freedoms and maintain the white supremacy mindset. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Homer Plessy, a 7/8th white individuals who was considered black under Louisiana state law, challenged segregated train cars by sitting in the whites only car. He was later convicted as the court ruled separate cars doesn't mean inferiority and it did not violate the Equal Protection Clause under the 14th amendment. This established the "separate but equal" doctrine. -
19th Amendment
The 19th amendment granted white women the right to vote. This however did not stop the struggles black women faced to gain their right to vote in the following decades. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Many African Americans were denied the admission to certain public schools as they were segregated by race. Each challenged the decision stating it violated the Equal Protection Clause under the 14th amendment. Lower courts followed the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling stating racial segregation was legal as long as both were equal. The Supreme Court, however, ruled that public segregation was deemed unequal and overturned Plessy v. Ferguson. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action is the process of eliminating discriminatory practice and preventing further discrimination in the future. It was first mentioned by John F. Kennedy in 1961 and has been used in many cases since to help remove discriminatory ideals. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act prohibited discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. This included public segregation in schools, work environments, and other public spaces. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This outlawed discriminatory voting practices aimed to restrict an individual's right to vote. This includes literacy tests, the grandfather clause, and other discriminatory methods. -
Reed v. Reed
Two separated individuals went to court for who had the right to their deceased son's estate. The court determined Mr. Reed had the right of ownership establishing "males must be preferred to females." Mrs. Reed challenged the decision and the Supreme Court ruled that the decision cannot be solely on the basis of sex. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment is aimed to guarantee gender equality between men and women. The amendment first took interest in the 1970s when it was passed by Congress and was left to the states to be ratified. Of the 38 states needed, only 35 signed, leaving it 3 states out of being amended. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Bakke, a white male, was rejected twice from the University of California due to the racial quota that was in place, regardless of his academics. He sued stating his denial violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment. The court ruled that this form of integration was restricting the acceptance of white individuals and ordered Bakke be accepted. This case determined that race could be used to determine admission but cannot be a limiting factor. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Hadwick was charged with violating Georgia state law after participating in consensual homosexual activity. The court originally dismissed the case as no real claim was made. This was later reversed and the Court ruled that these practices were private and therefore could not be regulated by the state. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), prohibits discrimination against those with disabilities. It gave affected individuals equal rights to those without the same difficulties, such as transportation, employment, public services, communication, etc. -
Motor Voter Act
This act required that states offer voter registrations at motor vehicle agencies, mail-in opportunities, and state and local offices. It also set in place voter registration requirements. -
Lawrence v. Texas
Two homosexual individuals were charged with violated Texas's anti-sodomy laws targeted towards homosexuals. Lawrence appealed his conviction stating it violated his privacy and the Equal Protection Clause. The Supreme Court originally stood by Georgia's law but later decided that law violated the 14th amendment. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Same-sex couples sued the states to challenge laws banning same-sex marriage saying it violated the Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause under the 14th amendment. The court ruled that same-sex couples have the same liberties and freedoms as opposite-sex couples as guaranteed by the 14th amendment.