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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was born into slavery in 1799. In 1832 Scott was purchased by Dr. John Elmerson. Elmerson shortly after, met his wife, Irene. In 1843, Elmerson died suddenly, and all the slaves Elmerson owned became Irenes. Since Scott lived in IL and WI previously, they were both free domain states and they could file a lawsuit. They won this lawsuit against Irene. Then Irene sent Scott to her brother John Stanford. Where Scott then filed a federal lawsuit with the US Circut court, which he then won -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was to abolish slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime. -
14th Amendment
In 1868, the constitution created the 14th Amendment, which would define national citizenship and forbidding the states to restrict the basic rights of citizens or other persons. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment was created to allow every citizen of the United States, the right to vote and to not be denied that right because of race, color, or previous conditions of servitude. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Homer Plessy was 1/8 African American and 7/8 Caucasian. He was asked by the Committee of Citizens to sit in the white car of the train because Plessy was considered black according to Louisiana law. Plessy was asked to leave the white-only car, but he refused. He was then arrested and he took it to the Courts. Plessy argued that the Separate Cars Act was unconstitutional, but the Courts disagreed and Plessy was convicted of a crime. -
Nineteenth Amendment
The 19th amendment allowed any United States citizen to vote, and wouldn't allow denying that right to vote by their sex. -
White Primaries
The White Primaries were held by white democrats and they wanted to make sure that black voters were and other minority voters were at a disadvantage. White primaries were primary elections held in the Southern United States, which only allowed white voters to participate. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown had challenged the Educational System because it denied the ability for African Americans to enroll in certain schools because of the color of their skin. They claimed that it was a violation of their Separate but Equal Clause because the schools that the different races went to were not equal and meet similar standards. -
Affirmative Action
A law that was put in place by President John F. Kennedy. It states that there will be no discrimination in the workplace, educational system, or in public accommodations base on race, color, creed, and national origin. Anyone or any company that is in violation of this will be in trouble with the law. -
Poll Taxes
A poll tax was enacted to tax voters and was equal for white people and black people. The law that passed the poll tax, didn't allow it to target African Americans or other minorities -
24th Amendment
The 24th Amendment abolished the poll tax for all federal elections. A poll tax was when voters came in to vote and were then taxed, and the only way their vote would be counted, was if they paid that tax. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This Civil Rights Act ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination towards race, color, religion, sex or national origin. It is was one of the most important acts during the Civil Rights movement -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act was signed by President Lyndon Johnson to remove barriers that kept United States citizens from voting. They banned poll taxes, literacy tests, and other measures that effectively prevented African Americans from voting. -
Reed v. Reed
In Idaho, and estate is granted to a male because they are “preferred” by the government. So, when Sally and Cecil Reed’s adopted son passed away, both of them wanted the estate because they were divorced. Probate Code allowed Cecil to own the estate, and Sally decided to take him to court because this is unlawful. The court found that the unfair treatment of men and women were unconstitutional in the state of Idaho. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was an amendment that was presented to guarantee equal rights for all Americans no matter what the sex or the individual is. The goal is to end the legal disputes between men and women in all cases, such as work, property, custody, and other legal matters. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Allan Bakke applied twice to the University of California Medical School Davis. He was rejected both times. The medical school reserved spots for minority groups as their affirmative action, but Bakke was more than qualified to be in the program. He sued the school and claimed that they only rejected him because he was a white male and not a minority. The courts agreed, and made it easier for minorities and majorities to gain acceptance. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Michael Hardwick was being watched by a Georgia Police Officer while he was having sexual relations with another man in his own home. Hardwick was criminalized for the violation of the state constitution. The court agreed with Hardwick in that Georgia had a flaw in their state constitution. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a law that prevents discrimination based on any disabilities. If an individual is qualified for a job and can do what is required, they can not be denied based on the disability. -
Lawrence v. Texas
John Lawrence and Tyron Garner were in the middle of a same-sex sexual act when the police came into the apartment. The police were trying to find a reported weapons disturbance in the same apartment. Both Lawrence and Garner were arrested in the process. This case was reported unconstitutional because it violated Due Process. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
The States failed to acknowledge that same-sex couples had a legal marriage. These couples sued their individual states and claimed that it was a violation of their 14th Amendment. They stated that it violated their Equal Protection Clause and their Due Process Clause. The Courts ruled I favor of the same-sex couples and marriage became legal in the States.
