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13th Amendment
The 13th 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." The major impact of this amendment was that it effectively abolished slavery. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment defines what it means to be a United States citizen and protects the certain rights of people. It said that anyone born in the United States is a United States citizen. It enforced due process to the states. Lastly, it prevented discrimination by the law. -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment states, "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." This meant that black males were allowed to vote. -
Poll Taxes
Paying a poll tax was a prerequisite for voting. Poll taxes applied to all citizens however it was used in the south to circumvent the 14th amendment. As many African Americans were poor they couldnt afford to pay the poll tax. -
Jim Crow
The segregation laws known as "Jim Crow" represented any discrimation towards African Americans. The laws affected almost every aspect of daily life, requiring segregation of schools, parks, libraries, drinking fountains, restrooms, buses, trains, and restaurants. -
Literacy Tests
A literacy test refers to government practices of administering tests to future voters to test their literacy. This was a common tool to prevent African Americans from voting as they werent educated. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy was jailed in a time were segregation was thriving. He was considered black and sat in the white only car section. The case went to the supreme court. Plessy's lawyer said that the seperate car act violated the 13th and 14th amendment. The ruling was that seperate was constitutional as long as they were equal. -
19th Amendment
The 19th amendment 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." This meant that women were now allowed to vote. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The equal rights amendment was a proposed amendment thats goal was to guarntee the rights guarnteed under the 19th amendment to women. This was necessary as many women didnt believe the 19th amendment was enough. -
Korematsu v. United States
During the times of the japenese internment camps, a man named Korematsu refused to leave his home. He was convicted and he in returned appealed. His case reached the supreme court. The decision of the court was that it was constitutional as the internment camps were a pressing public neccessity that justifies the camps. -
Sweatt v. Painter
Sweatt was a prospective law student who applied to the university of texas. At the time texas prohibited integrated education. As there was no law school for blacks he went to the court system. Even though in that time texas built a law school for blacks it was inferior. The seperate but equal was upheld and he was admitted to the university of texas. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education challenged the issue of whether segregation of public schools violated the rights under the 14th amendment. Despite the schools being seperate but equal it was ruled in favor of brown effectively ending racial segreation in schools. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Inspired by Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a public bus and her arrest, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began. Considered to be the first large scale protest of racial segregation, blacks refused to ride the city buses. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative action is a policy thats goal is to provide equal oppurtunites for everyone. It is used to prevent discrimination in society. Geared towards minorities and women it focuses on employment and education. -
24th Amendment
The 24th amendment states that citizens cannot be denied the right to vote due to a failure to pay a tax. This ended poll taxes. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The major impact of this was that any form of segregation was now illegal. The general public was forced to be intergrated. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to end discrimination of voting. It aimed to overcome legal barriers that prevented African Americans to vote which was guarenteed under the 15th amendment. -
Robert Kennedy Speech
While campaigning in Indiana, Robert Kennedy learned of the death of MLK. Kennedy was set to have a campaign speech in the Indianapolis ghetto that day. Instead he had one of the most impactful speeches of the era concerning civil rights. The effect of the speech was that Indianapolis remained calm when many other cities were rioting. -
Reed v. Reed
The reed family was divorced and after their sons death both of them sought to be named admistrator of his estate. Idaho law stated "males must be preferred to females", so the male won. The woman challenged, the result of the court was that dissimilar treatment of men and women was unconstitutional. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Another case that challenged what the equal protection under the 14th amendment. The university reserved 16 of the 100 spots in the medical to minoritites. Bakkes test scores were higher than any other minoritiy admitted. He challenged his admission and the result was in favor of Bakke and was admitted to the university. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
This case was concerned with gay rights. Sodomy was seen between two homosexuals which was an illegal act. The defendant challenged and the case went to the supreme court. The result was that the constitution provided no rights for acts of sodomy. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act prevents discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accomodation etc. -
Lawrence v. Texas
This case is concerned with gay rights. Lawrence and his male partner were arrested because homosexuality was a crime in texas. The men appealed and the case went to the supreme court. The result was that any law prohibiting same sex acts of initmacy violates the due process clause. -
Fisher v. Texas
The University of Texas admitted all high school seniors in the top ten percent of the class. As there was a difference in race undergraduates the proposed race as a admission decision. Fisher was a white student who wasnt in the top ten and she was rejected. She filled suit that race shouldnt be an admission decison. The result was that race as an admission decision was not constitutional. -
Indiana's Gay Rights (Baskin v. Bogan)
This case regards gay rights in Indiana. This case dealt with marriage. Two aspiring ladies wanted the right to marry and be recognized across state lines. The result of the decision was that gay couples are free to marry in Indiana.
