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Poll Tax
After the American Civil War recontruction started. During the 12 years after there became a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting. As a reult, many african american could not vote because they were impoverished.
http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Poll_Tax -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment abolished slavey and servitude. Except for crimes that a person was convicted of.
http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/document.html?doc=9&title.raw=13th%20Amendment%20to%20the%20U.S.%20Constitution%3A%20Abolition%20of%20Slavery -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment said all people born in the united states were to be given full and equal benefits of all laws.
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/usconstitution/a/14th-Amendment-Summary.htm -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment said that every citizens has the right to vote and no one shall deny this rights. Also congress has the power to enforce this amendment with the proper laws.
http://constitution.laws.com/15th-amendment -
Jim Crow
Jim Crow was a negative term for a black man. The Jim Crow Laws legally segregated white and black people.
http://www.crf-usa.org/black-history-month/a-brief-history-of-jim-crow -
Plessy v. Ferguson
On June 7th 1892, a man by the name of Homer Plessy was arrested for trying to get on a train for an act that was passed 2 years before that prohibited blacks from getting on white trains. 4 years later, he testified in court stating that the act violated the 14th amendment. The court ruled against Plessy in a 7-to-1 vote and responded by saying it was simply regulation of public policy and no racism was implied. Soon after, “Separate but Equal” came into play for the next 50 years. -
19th Amendment
This amendment guarentees womens right to vote. This process was long and drawn out.
http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/document.html?doc=13&title.raw=19th+Amendment+to+the+U.S.+Constitution:+Women%27s+Right+to+Vote -
Korematsu v United States
After Japan becoming an new enemy in World War II, the U.S began to panic over the Japanese currently living in the country. This resulted in Executive Order 9066, in which forced the Japanese Americans into internment camps. Korematsu was a Japense American who spoke on behalf of the ones forced into the camps, and argued it was wrong and unconstitutional. The court side with the government, ruling that the need to protect America from possible espionage outweighed Korematsu’s rights. -
Sweatt v. Painter
Sweatt was a black citizen denied entry to the Law School of the University of Texas. The court decided they would create a separate school for Negros. Dissapointed in the court's decision, Sweatt joined up with the NAACP and their case went all the way to the Supreme court. Finally, in a unanimous decision, the Supreme court ruled that the Law School for Negros created within Texas was inferior to the Law School in the University. Thus, they decided that Sweatt be admitted into the school. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This was a result of numerous cases in which several children were denied admittance into public schools due to their race. The plaintiff argued that it was unconstitutional due to the equal protection clause under the 14th amendment. Even though the argument was constantly shot down with the previous Plessy v. Ferguson cases, the court actually ruled it unconstitutional and did go against the 14th amendment. Finally, on May 17th, 1954, all races were allowed to be integrated into schools. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was when Afircan Americans refused to ride city buses in Montgomery, Alabama. This was to protest segregated seating on buses.
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/montgomery-bus-boycott -
Literacy Test
The Literacy Test was used to keep minorities from voting.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/voting_literacy.html -
24th Amendment
The citizens have the right to vote in an primary or other election for president or vice president, for elctors for president or vide president, or for represenatives in congressor senators. This should be abridged by the United States
http://constitution.laws.com/24th-amendment -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This law outlawed any basic discrimination such as race, gender, religion color, segregation.
http://www.nps.gov/subjects/civilrights/1964-civil-rights-act.htm -
Voting Act of 1965
This act put an end to any abridgment or the right of vote. As well as enforcement for the act.
http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/intro/intro_b.php -
Robert Kennedy speech in Indianapolis upon death of MLK
Robert Kennedy,brother of slain President John F. Kennedy, broke the news to a large group of African Americans the MLK was killed in Indianapolis, Indiana. http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/rfk-mlk.htm -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action is a term referring to the employment of minorities. The act is used to protect minorities from discrimination within the workplace and other places of business. -
Reed v. Reed
After the recent passing of their adopted son, Sally and Cecil Reed were divorced but both wanted to be named administer of their son's estate. However, Due to the Idaho Probate Code, men must be preferred to women when assigning administrators of estates. Therefore, Cecil ended up becoming administrator, but Sally deemed this unconstitutional. When the case was finished, the court ruled it was unconstitutional to prefer genders when appointing administrators due to the equal protection clause. -
1. Equal Rights Amendment
Prior to 1972, women were commonly treated unequal to men as far as their roles in society and what they could and could not do. After enough protest and realization from the people, the senate reached an agreement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment on March 22nd, 1972 in which banned discrimination based on gender. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
It used to be that people with disabilities were denied unequal opportunities within the workforce. Since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed on July 26th, 1990, people with disabilities of any kind could not be discriminated against. Employers must make proper accommodations to any disabled employees. Senator Tim Harkin even gave a part of his speech using sign language so his brother could understand. -
Lawrence v. Texas
In response to a reported weapons disturbance, a team of police were dispatched to Lawrence’s apartment. Arriving there, the officers found Lawrence and his male partner engaging in anal sex. They soon charged him for having anal sex with another man. Lawrence was then fined for $200. Afterwards, he decided to take this to Supreme Court, arguing that the act violated the 14th amendment. The Supreme Court ruled that making it a crime for two men to have intimate sex violates the Due Process Law. -
Fisher v. Texas
Fisher was a Caucasian woman who requested admission into the University of Texas when the Univesity started considering other races for admission. Fisher was rejected for admission. She then retaliated by suing the university, arguing that considering race as a factor for admissions into the University violated the Equal Protection Clause. However, the Court ruled that UT’s Affirmative Action policies could continue and that the consideration of race for admission was necessary for admissions. -
Indiana Gay Rights Court Battle
In 1986, Indiana made it clear to reject same-sex marriage and in 1997 denied for gay marriages to be allowed. However, after a long court battle pertaining to the legalization of same-sex marriage, Indiana eventually legally recognized gay marriage on October 7th, 2014.
