-
Dred Scott v Sandford
Notorious SCOTUS case ruling that basic human rights stated in the Constitution did not extend to Black Americans, as they were not considered American citizens. -
13th Amendment
Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, except as punishment for a crime. -
14th Amendment
Applies civil liberties to the states. This is noted as one of the most consequential amendments to the constitution, because previously the states were able to make their own judgements about the application of civil liberties. -
15th Amendment
Guarantees civil liberties will apply to all citizens. This was the first amendment to include former slaves and all African-American citizens in the full freedoms afforded by the US Bill of Rights. -
Plessy v Ferguson
Notorious supreme court case in which the supreme court stated that state segregation laws didn't violate the equal protections clause. This is what established the controversial idea of 'separate but equal' -
19th Amendment
This amendment to the Constitution states that the right to vote shall not be withheld from a citizen of the United States on the basis of sex. In short, women achieve suffrage. -
Brown v Board of Education
This landmark Supreme Court case is known for overturning the policy of separate but equal in schools. National guard was sent to enforce this in states that were less than thrilled. -
Affirmative Action
Policy which gives preferential treatment to minorities in the college admissions and hiring processes. Overturned in 2023, but remains unofficially in use in many places. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This law broadly prohibits discrimination of any kind on the basis of color, race, sex, a country someone is from, or religion. This includes the processes of hiring, firing, and job advancement. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This law eliminated discriminatory voting practices in the south, like requiring literacy tests. -
24th Amendment
This amendment prevented states from charging taxes to vote in general elections. This was a practice used in former Confederate states to prevent black citizens and poor white citizens from voting, and ultimately swaying the election. -
Title IX
Expanded the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include equality in education on top of hiring. In practice, Title IX ensures that women have the same opportunities to go to college as men. -
Regents of the University of California v Bakke
This case upheld affirmative action, stating that it did not violate the Constitution to give preferential treatment to minorities in the college admissions process. -
Equal Rights Amendment
Proposed Amendment that would explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sex. Missed the ratification deadline of 1979 due to opponents claiming it would end up putting women at a disadvantage. -
Bowers v Hardwick
Supreme Court case upholds a Georgia law which criminalizes sodomy in the case of homosexual sex, under the principle that such actions are not protected under the Constitution. -
Americans With Disabilities Act
Guarantees the same rights as the Equal Rights Act, and extends it to people with disabilities, which includes a wide range of conditions considered disabilities, from autism to cancer to gender dysphoria -
Shelby County v Holder
Law requires states to receive authorization from the Federal Government before making any modifications to their voting requirements. -
Obergefell v Hodges
Supreme Court states that the fundamental right to marry also applies to homosexual couples, effectively legalizing gay marriage nationwide. -
Voter ID Laws
Proposed legislation requiring a plastic ID card in order to vote in elections. Such legislation already exists in 37 US states, and became very relevant following the Capitol Riot in 2021.