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13th Amendment
This amendment abolished slavery. The amendment states, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." This amendment made it illegal for anyone to own slaves, but it did not put an end to racial discrimination. -
14th Amendment
This amendment granted citizenship to all races who were born in the United States. This amendment dictates, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States..are citizens of the United States.” This amendment was meant to grant equal rights to all races who were naturalized in the United States, but other problems still arose due to discrimination. -
Literacy Tests
1870-1965
Literacy tests were also invented during the Jim Crow Era in order to prevent African Americans to vote. Most African Americans did not have an education during this time period, so the southern states made it a requirement that African American voters had to pass a literacy test in order to have the right to vote. This was another flaw that segregation sparked. The literacy tests were finally outlawed by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
15th Amendment
This amendment granted all citizens and races the right to vote. The amendment decrees, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Even though this law was passed, southern states still found ways to prevent some people from voting. They created poll taxes, literacy tests, and property requirements to prevent the African Americans from voting. -
Jim Crow
1877-1965
The Jim Crow laws passed during this time enforced the idea of segregation or the separation of the races. The idea of “Separate but Equal” was very popular during this time period, but it was not followed. The blacks and the whites were separated, but it was not uncommon for the blacks to be given the short end of the stick. For example, poll taxes, literacy tests, and other means were created to prevent the black from voting. -
Poll Taxes
1877-1964
Poll taxes were created during the Jim Crow era in order to prevent the African Americans from voting in the southern states. The 15th had been passed which granted all US citizens the right to vote. In order to prevent this from happening the Southern states made polls taxes, literacy test, and other means to made it extremely difficult for African Americans to receive the opportunity to vote regardless. Poll taxes became illegal after congress passed Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
In 1892, Homer Plessy, who was partially black, sat in the front car of a train. When he was asked to move, he refused and was arrested. The court heard his case, and decided that providing separate but equal opportunities was constitutional as long as the facilities were equal. -
The 19th Amendment
This amendment extended the right to vote to women. The law states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” Women’s suffrage was a long battle with the government, but it was finalized when this amendment was ratified in 1920. -
Korematsu v. United States
During World War II, the government gave the military rights to exclude citizens of Japanese descent. Korematsu wanted to stay in San Leondro, and this violated a Civilian Exclusion order. The Court sided with the government, saying that in times of war or emergency, the need to protect against espionage is more important than Korematsu’s rights. -
Sweatt v. Painter
A black man applied to the law school of the University of Texas, but was denied because of his race. The school attempted to provide Sweatt with a separate but equal facility. The school was unsuccessful, and the court decided that it was unconstitutional. The new facility violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment. -
Brown v. Board of Education
In Topeka, Kansas, the schools were considered, “separate but equal”. However, the separation made the African American kids feel inferior, and therefore violated the Equal Protection Clause. The court decided that segregation in schools was not equal, and therefore unconstitutional. Segragation in public schools was no illegal. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
1955-1956
This protest was party inspired by Rosa Parks and her refusal to give up her seat to a white man. Shortly after Rosa Parks’ arrest other African Americans decided to protest Jim Crow Laws and segregation by refusing to ride any of the Montgomery City Buses. The boycott lasted about 13 months. They ended with the Supreme Court ruling that segregation on city busses was unconstitutional. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative action is also called positive discrimination. It is the act of favoring members who are considered to be disadvantaged due to discrimination. This is the date when Kennedy signed an Executive Order stating that employers could not discriminate against employees or applicants based on race. This order was later expanded to prohibit discrimination based on sex or gender. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This new law authorized the national government to end segregation in public education, public accommodation (equal employment opportunity commission), and it outlawed discrimination in employment for race, religion, national origin, or gender. These new changes affected men and women of all races, and it was the beginning of a better life for those of color. This was just one of the laws that helped out an end to segregation. -
24th Amendment
This amendment focused on fixing the law so that everyone had the fair opportunity to vote. It specified, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote... shall not be denied or abridged... by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.” This made it official so that southern states had no means to stop African Americans from voting. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The main goal of the law was to authorize the Justice Department to suspend restrictive electoral tests in the Southern states that had a history of low black turnout in the poles. This law made it so the government could send federal officers to register voters directly. Also States had to obtain clearance from the Justice Department before changing their electoral laws. This law achieved its goals quickly, and was another high point for the civil Rights movement. -
Robert Kennedy Speech in Indianapolis Upon Death of MLK
Robert Kennedy gave this speech at a gathering that was intended to be a campaign rally for his bid to receive the 1968 Democratic nomination for President. When Kennedy’s plane arrived in Indianapolis he was informed about MLK’s death, and advised to cancel the campaign stop, but he proceeded anyways. In this speech Kennedy notified everyone at the gathering about King’s assassination, and then he went on to describe how MLK made a difference in the community, and how he was a great person. -
Reed v. Reed
Sally and Cecil Reed, who were separated, fought over ownership of their deceased son’s property. Cecil was granted the property because of Idaho’s Probate Code. Sally challenged this, and Congress found it unconstitutional in this context to mandate only on the basis of sex. -
Equal Rights Amendment
In 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment passed through the Senate. However, only 35 states ratified the propsed amendment. It has been introduced into every session of Congress since this year. The Equal Rights Amendment would ensure that all rights given in the constituion would be guarenteed to every citizen, without discrimination based on sex. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Allan Bakke applied twice to the California Medical school at Davis, and was rejected both times.
Bakke, a thirty five year old white male, said that his rejection was due to his race. Bakke was stating that the admissions quota based on race violated his fourteenth amendment rights. The courts sided with Bakke, which minimized opposition for whites, while boosting opportunities for minorities by keeping affirmative action. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Bowers was at his home when police officer, Hardwick, walked in on Bowers and another man having consensual sodomy. Both men were arrested, and Bowers argued that this was a violation of his privacy. The court decided with the state, saying that the Constitution does not confer the right for homosexuals to have consented sex. This made it ok for states to make their own laws about homosexual activity. -
Americans with Disabilities ACct
The Americans with Disabilities Act is similar to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act protects Americans with disabilities, both physical and mental, from discrimination. It also ensures that employers provide an adequate qork environment for employees with disabilities. -
Lawrence v. Texas
Lawrence and Garner were arrested in Lawrence’s home for having same sex sexual contact. The police entered the house on a complaint from another man. The police charged them with having "deviate sex". The court decided that this law violated the Equal Rights Amendment. This case over turned the previous decision in Bowers v. Hardwick. Sodomy laws in every state were no longer in effect. Making same-sex sexual activity legal in the U.S. -
Fisher v. Texas
Abigail Fisher, a white female, had applied to the University of Texas, and was rejected admittance. She alleged that the University had discriminated against her based on her race. After the hearings, the court decided that, “universities may use race as part of a holistic admissions program where it cannot otherwise achieve diversity.” -
Indiana's gay rights court battle
On this day, U.S. District Court Judge Young struck down Indiana's ban on marriage for same-sex couples. The law was said to be violating the right to equal protection and due process. Also, on August 19, 2014, Judge Young said that same-sex couples who were legally married in another state must be recognized in Indiana.
