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Dred Scott vs. Sandford
The Dred Scott Case was classified as a significant court case because it had an influential impact on the anti-slavery movement and the Civil War.They decided they wanted their freedom and their owner refused to dismiss them as slaves. Through losing a series of court cases, they finally won because the slave owner got remarried to an abolitionist who sold them to their previous owner who then freed the Scott Family. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment marked the official abolishment of slavery in the United States. While Lincoln introduced the Emancipation Proclamation two years prior (1863) to the 13th Amendment being released, this wasn't enough to end slavery in America. The Emancipation Proclamation only emancipated slaves in certain confederate states which was why the 13th Amendment was necessary. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment grants all American citizens with basic equal rights no matter what state they live in. Much of this was to help limit the discrimination of states against colored people. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment outlaws the prohibition of discriminating against and limiting who can vote based on specific criteria. This amendment says no matter what "race, color, or previous condition of servitude" a person is, they can vote. This amendment was significant because it was a step toward becoming a more equal union. -
Poll Taxes
After the 15th Amendment was passed, many did not want blacks voting; especially those in the confederate. In order to not violate the law but also make it so blacks couldn't vote, poll taxes were taken from anyone who wanted to vote unless you were poor and white. In this case, if you were a poor white-man, the grandfather clause which declares that if your grandfather voted you can vote, protected their voting eligibility. -
White Primaries
White Primaries were primary elections that only allowed whites to participate. Primary elections are elections that occur before the presidential election that helps narrow down those running to ultimately get down to the two most popular candidates who go head to head for the presidency. White primaries were set up to disenfranchise colored people by not letting them participate. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
Plessy versus Ferguson allowed for the separate but equal doctrine to be implemented. Plessy argued that the blacks always had the inferior everything, as he tried to sit in the nicer white seats on the bus but was forced to move, and it simply wasn't fair. In turn, he went to court and the case ruled that blacks and whites can be separate but blacks need to have things up to the same standard as whites. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was the right that stated no one can be denied the right to vote based on their gender.This is significant because this was the push needed for women so they had a voice in the United States. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
The Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools is prohibited. This is significant because it made opportunities on the basis of education equal for all. It began some of the first resegregation of America, especially in schools. -
Affirmative Action
A law signed by JFK that helps to bring equal opportunity for groups of people that have/are being discriminated against. This action takes account of race, religion, sex, nationality and favors these individuals to receive better or the same opportunities as whites.It helps to represent and bring awareness to people not normally taken account for. -
24th Amendment
The 24th amendment removed the allowance of taxing voters. This was significant because in attempt to keep blacks from being able to vote a poll tax was enforced and blacks couldn't afford to vote. To eliminate this limitation poll taxes were banned. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was significant because it ended discrimination in the work place. This means that a person couldn't be denied a job based on their "race, color, religion, sex or national origin". This is important because it made our nation more equal. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This aimed to further the 15th Amendment and blankly prohibit racial discrimination against voters. This means that efforts to attempt to keep blacks from voting was now prohibited. -
Reed vs. Reed
This case was an Equal Protection case based off of the 14th amendment. It determined that administrators from estates (basically landlords, renters ect) are not allowed to discriminate based on sex after Sally Reed challenged the courts when the Idaho Probate specified that "males must be preferred to females". This is a great example of a female figure taking initiative to make change and create equality among the sexes. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was an amendment proposed by the National Women's political party that was designed to give everyone equal legal rights for all Americans regardless of sex. It ended the distinctions such as wage and voting rights gap between women and men. It is significant because it was one of the first big pushes towards equality and stemmed the feminist movement that started in the late 1960s. -
Regents of the University of California vs. Bakke
In this case, the Supreme Court originally ruled the university's use of racial "quotas" in the admissions process as unconstitutional but later found that the use of "affirmative action" to allow minority students to be accepted more, as constitutional. It basically upholds affirmative action and allows race to be a factor in admissions. -
Bowers vs. Hardwick
Case states that the Constitution does not protect the rights of gay adults to engage in private, consensual sodomy. It also criminalizes sex in private between gay people. This is significant to see how far we have come since then, and it will also be overturned by a case in 2003. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
This act became a law in 1990 and ensured that no one with disabilities could be discriminated against on the basis of things such as race, sex, religion, national origin, age, and color. It also protected these individuals in all areas of public life such as schools, jobs, and transportation. This act is significant because this will apply to our veterans that could have come out of war with certain disabilities, but also protects the common person from discrimination. -
Lawrence vs. Texas
Lawrence vs. Texas disbands the previous law against gay couples practicing sexual activity in private is illegal. This case ruled that practicing private homosexuality in homes between consenting adults is perfectly legal and disbands the Bowers vs. Hardwick ruling. This case shows the first steps for equality on the basis of homosexuality and eventually legalizing gay marriage in all states. -
Obergefell vs. Hodges
In 2015, the Supreme Court finally ruled in this landmark case that it is a fundamental right for same sex couples to be able to marry in any state. It is protected by the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the Constitution. Now all states are required to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples.
