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13th Amendment Ratified
The 13th Amendment was added to the Constitution to formally abolish slavery. It established that slavery or involuntary servitude ,except for punishment of a crime is allowed in the United States. Congress has the power to enforce the article with appropriate legislation. -
14th Amendment Ratified
The 14th Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1868. The amendment was added to state that any person born in the United States is a citizen and the state cannot deny the person citizenship. Also, it states that states are given representatives should be appointed to their population. -
15th Amendment Ratified
The 15th Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1870. The amendment states that citizens of the United States shall not be denied the right to vote based on color, race, or previous condition of servitude. -
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Jim Crow Laws in Effect
JIm Crow laws were a form of legal segregation. The were laws enforced to african americans. Such sgregations included restrooms, restaraunts, water fountains, etc. It was overruled in 1964 with the civil rights act. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
A Supreme Court case in 1869. The case proved the constitutional justification for segregation by ruling that a law in Louisiana requiring "equal but seperate accomodation for the White and colored races" was allowed. It was considered constitutional. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was passed in 1920. The amendment stated the citizens of the United States have the right to vote and cannot be denied by the the country or the state given their sex. -
Korematsu v. United States
A Supreme Court case in 1944. The case ruled that it was constitutional to uphold internment camps of more that 100,000 Japenese Americans during World War II. -
Sweatt v. Painter
In 1946, Heman Sweatt applied for admission at the University of Texas Law School. He was declined due to his skin color and asked the state courts to order his admission. The University tried to incorporate Seperate but equal by building black facilities, but the courts found seperate but equal was unconstitutional. -
Brown v. Board of Education
A case that went to the Supreme Court in 1954. The Supreme Court held the decision that school segregation was unconstitutional because it violated the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection. The case marked the end of legal segregation. -
Montgomery Bus Boycotts Begin
The Montgomery Bus Boycotts was a 13 month boycott. They began in December after Rosa Parks was jailed for not giving up her seat on the bus. The boycotts ended when the Supreme Court ruled segregation unconstitutional. -
Ruby Bridges
Born on September 8, 1954, Ruby Bridges was the first african american to integrate into an all white elementary school in 1960. She had to be escorted to classes by both her mother and U.S. Marshalls due to the violent mobs occcuring in protest. -
Affirmitive Action
Affirmative action is a policy that was passed in 1961. The policy was established to favor those who have suffered from discrimination. The ones favorited were those who have been affected by work discrimination and education. -
24th Amendment Ratified
The 24th Amendment was passed in 1964. The amendment stated that the right of United States Citizens in a primary or any other election for President or Vice President or any other representatives cannot be denied to vote by either not paying a poll tax or failure of paying any other tax. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Enacted in 1964, this piece of legislation was to prevent discrimination of race, color, religion, sex, or national orgin. it also ended unequal applications for the voting process, and legal segregation in school, the work place, and public accomodations. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 to discontinue voting discrimination. It mainly affect african americans and latinos in texas and other southern states. It is said to be the most effective civil rights laws ever passed. -
Loving v. Virginia
In 1958, two Virginia residents, Mildred Jetter, a black female and Richard Loving, a white male decided to get married in the District of Columbia. Upon returning to Virgina, the couple was charged with violation of the states antimiscegenation law, which banned interracial marriage. The couple was sentenced to a year in jail, but the judge took away the sentence and the Lovings could not return for 25 years. -
Robert Kennedy Speaks in Indianapolis after the death of MLK
Robert Kennedy was the first to publicily inform the audience the King had been killed. Many of the people in the crowd were in disbelief. He referred to King as his brother, even though being two completely different skin colors. The crowd dispersed quietly instead of violent mobs which were what was anticipated. -
Reed v. Reed
In 1971, the Idaho Probate Code specified that "males must be preffered to females". After the death of their son, Sally and Cecil Reed, who were seperated at the time, were wondering who would get the estate. Cecil won and Sally then challenged the court, claiming it was a violation to the 14th amendment. The court ruled in favor of Sally. -
Civil Rights Amendment
Written by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman, the Civil Rights Amendment was written to give equal rights to women. The amendment recieved 35 of the necessary 38 states. But shortly before the dead line, 5 states withdrew their votes. The deadlinw was then extended but no other states supported the amendment. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Allan Bakke was a 35 year old white man who had applied twice to the University of California Medical School at Davis. He was denied both times. His scores for both his tests and his GPA were higher than a majority of the minorities who applied there, and he was rejected both times. He claims he was denied based solely on race. Court ruled for Bakke on the basis of Equal Protection. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Michael Hardwick was in his own home when being observed by a police officer through a window while engaging in a sexual act with another male. The police officer later charged him with violating a statute of Georgia of criminalized sodomy. Hardwick challeneged the constitutionally. He failed to state a claim so the case was dismissed. -
Americans With Disabilities Act
Passed in 1990, the law was used to prevent discrimination against Americans with disabilities. Equal employment opportunity commission included a list of conditions included as disabilities to be concluded as disabilities such as deafness, blindness, and use of a wheelchair. -
Lawrence v. Texas
Police officers in Texas were responding to a weapons disturbance. The police walked in the apartment of John Lawrence and saw him and another adult male engaging in consensual activities. The police arrested the two saying they violated the Texas "Homosexual Conduct" law. The court ruled that the statute was unconstitutional under the due process clause in the 14th amendment. -
Fisher v. Texas
In 2008, Abigail Fisher, a caucasian female applied to the University of Texas. She was not among the top 10%, so she applied for the non-top 10%, and her application was rejected. Court supported Fisher caliming it violated the 14th amendment. -
Baskin v. Bogan
One of the few cases filed to the District of Columbia arguing about same sex marriage. The case is currently in the Supreme Court trying to shoot down Indiana's gay marriage law.
