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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was taken by his slave master to live in Illinois and the Louisiana Territory where slavery is banned. He argued that he was a free man due to his residency in free territory. It was held that Dred Scott was not an American citizen and did not have the right to sue and his case was dismissed. It was ruled however, that slaves moved to a free state were considered property through the 5th amendment and therefore were not free. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment abolished slavery in the entirety of the United States after the end of the civil war on December 6th, 1865, after it was passed January 31, 1865. This was the beginning of the civil rights of Black Americans being returned to them. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment, ratified in 1868 established that all people born or naturalized in the US are citizens and as such have the rights and protections guaranteed by the constitution and US laws. This law most notably made civil and legal rights and liberties available to white Americans available to former slaves. -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment, passed February 26th 1869 and ratified February 3rd 1870, gave African American men the right to vote. Although this law was passed, many African Americans were threatened and attacked for registering or trying to vote. -
Poll Taxes
This practice, started in the 1890s, was the implementation of a voting fee that eligible voters had to pay in order to vote. This barred many African Americans from being able to vote. Poor whites could excuse this payment through the Grandfather Clause. This practice ended in 1964 with the passing of the 24th amendment. -
Plessy V. Ferguson
Argued in April of 1896, and decided in May of 1896, was about the Separate Car Act in Louisiana. This act required separate cars for blacks and whites on a train. Plessy, who was black under Louisiana law but was seven-eighths Caucasian, was sitting in a 'white' car and was asked to move, but when he refused was arrested. Plessy’s lawyers argued the separate car act violated the 13th and 14th amendments. The judge held that Louisiana could enforce the law on railroads within its borders. -
19th Amendment
The 19th amendment guarantees women of all races and nationalities that are citizens of the United States the right to vote. This amendment was passed by congress on June 4th, 1919, and ratified on August 18th, 1920. -
White Primaries
Used mostly in southern states, ‘White Primaries’ prevented African Americans and minorities from joining the democratic party and participating in the primary elections. It was declared unconstitutional in the case Smith v. Allwright by the Supreme Court in 1944. -
Brown V. Board of Education
This case regarded African American students that were denied registration due to their race in some public schools. They argued that this violated the fourteenth amendment. This case ruled the separate but equal education for racial minorities is unequal and violates the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. Separation based on race promotes inferiority that negatively affects the education and growth of African American children. -
24th amendment
The 24th amendment passed January 23, 1964, gave citizens the right to vote in presidential, senator, and representative elections regardless of if they can pay the US or the State poll tax. Increased the number of African American citizens that could vote in elections -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Passed in 1964, the Civil Rights Act is a law against discrimination of any person based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Throughout the US and particularly in the south, regardless of the laws in place Black Citizens were treated unfairly in public, in schools, and in the workplace. This law aimed to not only help Black Americans receive their deserved rights but other minorities and sexes. -
Affirmative Action
Also known as positive discrimination, this action is the placement of policies or practices in businesses, organizations, etc. that promote inclusion and representation of all groups regardless of sex, gender, race, nationality, sexuality, etc. Introduced in 1965 -
Voting Rights Act of 1964
Signed into law on August 6th 1965, this act outlawed voting practices used in any southern states like literacy tests that discriminated against African Americans and other minorities when they registered to vote. This resulted in low voter turnout for Black Americans. -
Reed v. Reed
Argued and decided in late 1971, this case is about the Idaho Probate Code which is used in the appointing of estates administrators. This code says that men are preferred to women as estates admins. Separated Sally and Cecil Reed wanted to be named admin of their passed adopted son’s estate. Cecil was named administrator due to the Probate Code. It was decided by the supreme court that this law was unconstitutional due to the equal protection clause fo the 14th amendment. -
Reed V. Reed
Argued and decided in late 1971, this case is about the Idaho Probate Code which is used in the appointing of estates administrators. This code says that men are preferred to women as estates admins. Separated Sally and Cecil Reed wanted to be named admin of their passed adopted son’s estate. Cecil was named administrator due to the Probate Code. It was decided by the supreme court that this law was unconstitutional due to the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. -
Reed v. Reed
Argued and decided in late 1971, this case is about the Idaho Probate Code which is used in the appointing of estates administrators. This code says that men are preferred to women as estates admins. Separated Sally and Cecil Reed wanted to be named admin of their passed adopted son’s estate. Cecil was named administrator due to the Probate Code. It was decided by the supreme court that this law was unconstitutional due to the equal protection clause fo the 14th amendment. -
Equal Rights Amendment
This amendment, passed in 1972 guarantees equality for legal rights for all citizens of the US regardless of sex. This was an attempt to end discrimination and inequality between all people in property, employment, divorce, court, etc. -
Regents of the University of California V. Bakke
Argued in late 1977 and decided in mid-1978, this case concerns Allan Bakke, a white male, who applied twice to the University of California Medical School at Davis but was rejected due to that 100 places in the entering class, 16 are reserved for minorities. Bakke's qualifications were above all the minority students accepted and argued that he was excluded based on race. It was decided that Bakke should be accepted and that no number could be attached to the admission of race to a school. -
Bower V. Hardwick
Argued and decided in 1986, this case concerns Michael Hardwick who was arrested for homosexual sodomy. He challenged the Georgia state statute that criminalized homosexual sodomy. The court decided that there is no constitutional protection over acts of sodomy and states have the right to outlaw those practices if they see fit. -
Americans With Disabilities Act
Passed in 1990, this amendment guarantees Americans with disabilities the civil rights to vote, have access to public space, equality, and other benefits and privileges that are available to other US citizens. -
Motor Voter Act
Professionally known as the National Voter Registration Act, this act allows American citizens to register to vote when they receive/ earn a drivers license. This boosted the number of Americans who could register. After the first year of it’s passing, 11 million new voters registered. -
Lawrence V. Texas
Argued and decided in 2003, this case concerns John Lawrence and Tyron Garner who were arrested for committing homosexual sodomy. Lawrence and Garner challenged the Texas statute against sexual conduct between persons of the same sex. It was decided that the state statute violated the Due Process Clause and that no state has the right to outlaw those practices. This case removed the Bowers V. Hardwick precedent. -
Obergefell V. Hodges
Argued and decided in 2015, this case regards same-sex couples who sued their states, challenging the constitutionality of their bans or nonrecognition of same-sex marriage. It was ruled that through the 14th amendment a state is required to license a marriage between same-sex couples, and requires the state to recognize legal, licensed and performed marriages between same sex couples