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Scott v. Sanford
The court ruled that African-Americans whose ancestors were slaves, whether enslaved or free, could not become an American citizen and sue. It also held that slaves were property under the 5th Amendment and that any law depriving a slave owner of slaves was unconstitutional. -
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Reconstruction Era
A period of time after the Civil War in which the government tried to integrate Southern states that had previously seceded from the Union into it and determine the legal status of African-Americans. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were created during this era. -
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Jim Crow Era
An era in which segregation of Whites and African-Americans was highly prevalent in society. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The court ruled that segregation was legal as long as the two parties being segregated had equal treatment. This was known as the "separate but equal" doctrine. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment gave women suffrage, or the right to vote. -
George Stinney case
George Stinney was executed at age 14 for a crime he did not commit without a fair trial, denying him several due process rights. -
Brown v. Board
The court ruled the "separate but equal" doctrine unconstitutional and established that segregated educational facilities were inherently unequal, as segregation could have a detrimental effect on a child's motivation to learn. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
It banned segregation in education, public facilities, jobs, and housing. It created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to ensure fair hiring practices, and established a federal Community Relations Service to assist local communities with civil rights issues. The bill also authorized the US Office of Education to distribute financial aid to communities struggling to desegregate public schools. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
It prohibited racial discrimination in voting. -
Shelby County v. Holder
Eliminated preclearance enforcement from Voting Rights Act of 1965