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Dred Scott V. Sanford
Dred Scott filed a suit for freedom in St. Louis. He had moved back to Missouri after living in Illinois, which was a free state. He was claiming that since he lived in a free state, even though he was returning to a slave state. They ruled against Scott in the case and said that he and his family would be subject to slavery. He then appealed it to the supreme court, and though gaining support from abolitionists he lost the case again. -
13th Ammendment
In simple terms the 13th amendment said that slavery or involuntary servitude was no longer allowed in the United States. This amendment came at the end of the civil war, and after the emancipation proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. This is the first of the three amendments that we connect with the civil rights movement. -
14th Amendment
This amendment grated citizenship to anyone who was born, or naturalized in the United States. This also included former slaves, and also guaranteed "equal" protection under the law -
15th Amendment
This amendment prohibited federal or state government to deny someone the right to vote based on their race. This gave African American men the right to vote. -
Plessy v Feguson
Plessy who 7/8 white but under Louisiana law is considered black was asked to sit in a while only rail car as a test, but then was asked to move from the car. He refused to move and then was arrested. This was a court decision that continued racial segregation in public services as long as the separated services were still equal. This is where the term "separate but equal" came from. -
19th Amendment
This amendment prohibit federal and state governments to deny someone the right to vote on the basis of their sex. This is also referred to as The Women's right to vote. -
White Primaries
These were primaries, particularly held in the southern states. These primaries only allowed white voters to participate in voting there. In was another way to try and regulate who was voting in elections. -
Brown v Board of Education
This court case ruled that is was unconstitutional to allow racial segregation in public schools. It overturned the idea of "separate but equal" in schools. -
Affirmative Action
This is said to be considered as "positive discrimination". It is taking groups that have been known to be discriminated against to give them certain opportunities in employment, education, and housing. -
24th Amendment
This prohibited the federal and states from applying poll taxes or any other tax during a federal election. It says that no one should be denied their vote if they are unable to pay the tax -
Poll Taxes
These were taxes that were set in place at the polls that were required to be able to vote. The goal of those that placed the taxes were to limit those who were able to vote. This primarily targeted African Americans. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This was an Act that outlawed discrimination based on race, religion, sex, ect. This includes discrimination in employment, voter registration requirements, and racial segregation in schools -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This was a legislation that prohibited racial discrimination during voting. This overturned legal barriers that were preventing African Americans from being able to vote. -
Reed v Reed
In an Idaho probate code is specifically said that males would be preferred over females in a decision for administrators on an estate. In a unanimous decision the court ruled that this was an unconstitutional treatment. -
Equal Rights Ammendment
This was a proposed amendment that was formed to ensure equal rights for all American citizens no matter their sex. It was seeking to end differences between men and women on the basis of employment, divorce, property, among others. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Bakke was arguing that he was rejected from the University of California both times solely based on race. The court ruled that race was allowed to be one consideration factor when deciding admission. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Hardwick was enganged in a homosexual act and observed by a Georgia Police officer. Hardwick was charged for a Georgia statue that made sodomy criminalized. The court in the end ruled against Hardwick, in fear that ruling for him would cause the courts to be illegitimate. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
This was an act put in place to prohibit disability based discrimination. Including but not limited to transportation, employment, and other services. -
Lawrence v. Texas
When police were responding to a weapons disturbance Lawrence and Garner were found doing sexual acts, which at the time it was illegal for the same sex to engage in such acts. They were both arrested and the court ruled that the Texas law was against the Due Process Clause -
Obergefell v. Hodges
This decision ruled that same-sex marriage is a guaranteed right to individuals under the Due Process clause, and the 14th amendment. This ensured that all states would perform and grant these marriages.
