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13th Amendment
The 13th amendment officially outlawed slavery. It happened after the conclusion of the civil war. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment granted citizenship to freed slaves. Citizenship gave these African Americans new rights--states couldn't deny the right to life, liberty, and property. -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment gave black men the right to vote--many states still took steps to prevent African Americans from voting. -
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Jim Crow Laws
These laws were enacted as a roundabout way of circumventing the fourteenth amendment. They placed restrictions on blacks such as curfews, segregated public facilities, and job discrimination, found mostly in southern states. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
When Louisiana made a law segregating blacks and whites on the public railways, Homer Plessy was arrested for refusing to move from his "whites only" seat. He argued that this law was unconstitutional, based on the fourteenth amendment, but the Supreme Court sided against him, 7-1, saying that Louisiana was within its constitutional boundaries. -
19th Amendment
The 19th amendment happened after the suffrage movement by women's rights actvivists. It gave women the right to vote. -
Poll Taxes
In 1937 Breedlove v. Suttles deemed poll taxes constitiutional. In Georgia, people were charged $1 (which was a lot at the time) to register to vote. -
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Korematsu v. United States
During WW2, the military was given authority to exclude individuals of Japanese descent from "critical areas" within the US. Korematsu refused to leave Leandro, California, thus violating this authority. When argued in front of the Supreme Court, the court sided with the government 6-3, saying that this kind of authority is constitutional during times of "emergency and peril". -
Sweatt v. Painter
Herman Sweatt (black) applied into the University of Texas Law School, but was denied based on it being a white school, and was redirected to a supposedly "separate but equal" school. Sweatt argued that this was a violation of the fourteenth amendment, and the Supreme Court sided with him unanimously. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This case was brought before the Supreme Court based on the thought that black children being segregated from white children in school violated the fourteenth amendment. The Supreme Court sided unanimously with Brown, recognizing that racial segregation in schools is indeed a violation of the fourteenth amendment. -
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Montgomery Bus Boycott
The boycott was a protest against racial segregation on the public transportation system in Montgomery, Alabama, following the arrest of Rosa Parks. It lasted for over a year until, in the case Browder v. Gayle, the Supreme Court ruled that Alabama's segregational bus laws were unconstitutional. -
Literacy Tests
In the Lassiter v. Northampton Country Board of Elections court case, the supreme court said they literacy tests did not necessarily violate rights. The tests were said to be constitutional if they were delievered to all voters equally, but in reality they were delivered by white officials with the intention of discriminating. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination of any kind based on race, color, religion, or national orgin. -
24th Amendment
The 24th amendment abolished the poll tax that formerly made it difficult for African Americans to vote. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in order to prohibit racial discrimination in voting. It was enacted as an extension of the voting rights guarenteed by the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. -
Robert Kennedy's Speech After Death of MLK
Many members of the audience were not aware of Dr. King's death. They wailed and lamented at the news. He tried to relate to the audience by speaking about the assasination of his brother. He then tried to give a message of compassion and love. -
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Reed v. Reed
Upon the death of their adopted son, the paren'ts of the child (who were separated) both vied for administration of his estate. Idaho's Probate Code, men were to be given preference over women in such a case. Ms Reed argued that this preference, based on sex alone, was unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court sided unanimously. -
Equal Rights Amendment
Written by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman, the ERA would guarentee equal rights for all women. It passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives, but fell three states short of the 3/4 majority needed to officially ratify this new amendment. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Allan Bakke was denied admission into University of California Medical School at Davis two times, even though his qualifications exceeded those of any minority student that was accepted. He argued that he was being discriminated against based on race, and the Supreme Court sided with him, 5-4. -
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Bowers v. Hardwick
Police observed Michael Hardwick engaging in sexual activity with another man, violating Georgia's anti-sodomy laws. Hardwick argued that these laws were unconstitutional. The Supreme Court sided against him 5-4, on the basis that such activity is not protected by the constitution. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against those with disabilities, and mandates that employers provide some kind of accommodation to employees with disabilities, as well as public accommodations. This mandate applies to both mental and physical disabilities. -
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Lawrence v. Texas
Police responded to a weapons disturbance call in Lawrence's home. Upon entering, the police found Lawrence and another man engaging in sexual activity, with mutual consent, in violation of Texas' "Homosexual Conduct" law. The Supreme Court sided with Lawrence 6-3 based on the fact that their due process clause was being violated. -
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Fisher v. Texas
Abigail Fisher argued before the Supreme Court that the University of Texas had denied her admission because she was white. She won with a 7-1 ruling. The general consensus was that the government or public leaders should not base acceptance on race at all. -
Gay Marriage Recognized in Indiana
Though the ruling was stayed for awhile following the court case Baskin v. Bogan, the case was overturned and gay marriage is now recognized and performed in the state of Indiana.
