Civil Rights TimeToast

Dred Scott v. Sanford

1857

Dred Scott used be slave in the slave state of Missouri. He had moved to a free state was now believed to be free. After moving back to Missouri, Scott was considered a slave so he took the case to court. The court ruled that Scott was still a slave and therefore considered property. Due to this establishment, Scott did not have a standing to sue and the court determined that African american that were descendants of slaves could not be citizens.

24th Amendment

1864

This amendment got rid of the poll tax that many people had to pay during the Reconstruction era. The purpose of this tax was to stop African Americans and impoverished people from voting. This amendment was a small step in dismantling discrimination

Poll Taxes (1861- 1865)

1864

This was created as a prerequisite to stop African American voters turnout. This was eventually dismantled by the 24th Amendment. This was only one of the few actions taken to disenfranchise minorities from voting.

13th Amendment

1865

Amendment was passed during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War. This amendment outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude except if it is a punishment for a crime. This was not immediately ratified by all the states and the last ratified it in 1866.

14th Amendment

1868

This was passed also during the Reconstruction period along with 13th Amendment. This protected the civil rights of newly freed slaves. This was highly controversial when it was passed because it believed to be too radical in giving rights to African Americans. The rights included equal protection under the law, due process and the requirement of the states.

15th Amendment

1870

This amendment established the right for people to vote regardless of race, color or previous condition of servitude. This allowed African American men to vote in public elections and even allowed African American men to become elected officials. To combat this amendment, some states created tests and taxes that would limit the turnout of African American voters.

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896

Plessy was testing the Separate car act which was implemented in Louisiana to see if the could prove that this act was unconstitutional according to the 14th amendment. The court eventually ruled that this act did not violate the 14th amendment. This ultimately established the separate but equal ideology which meant that there should be segregation and was justified by saying that this did not mean that African Americans were seen as inferior.

White Primaries (1890 - 1908)

1908

Another method used by most southern states to prevent minorities from voting. This was a convention where only white people could vote. Eventually the courts ruled this unconstitutional because it prevented people from practicing their civil rights.

19th Amendment

1920

This amendment stated that the rights of people to vote shall not be abridged on the basis of sex. This was a significant moment in the feminist movement in the United States. The increasing role of women in society due to wars and international conflict pushed forward the importance of their right to vote.

Brown v. Board of Education

1954

This court handled that matter of having public schools segregated. The court ruled that it was in fact unconstitutional to segregate and integrated the schools. There were protests for this such as the infamous desegregation protest in Little Rock where Pres. Eisenhower has to sent military aid to assist black students into the school

Civil Rights Act of 1964

1964

This act ended segregation in public places and banned employee discrimination on the basis of color, race, religion, sex or national origin. Considered a pivotal action in the civil rights movement.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

1965

This completely outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the civil war in the Reconstruction era which included literacy tests as a prerequisite for voting. This was the reinforcement of 15th amendment.

Affirmative Action

1967

This is a way that businesses for government corporations can give special advantages or opportunities where minorities are able to receive some aid. During the 70's, anti discrimination was addressed heavily and that influenced affirmative action. It is still used today especially in terms of college admissions.

Reed v. Reed

1971

There was an Idaho probate code which said the men should be preferred over women when handling administrators in estate. A divorced couple had to appoint administrator to their estate and it was decided that the man should decide. The woman took the matter to court and it was determined that the act was in fact unconstitutional.

Equal Rights Amendment

1972

This act states that the rights of all individuals should not be abridged on basis of sex. The amendment did not reach ratification in all the states. This was not ratified because it was seen as too extreme of a action for the time and age.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

1978

A man was denied access into the medical school of University of California. The man claimed that he was not admitted due to his race because there were spots of admission reserved for minority students. The court decided that racial quotas were unconstitutional which was what the university was doing but they also said that affirmative action was permissible.

Bowers v. Hardwick

1986

A man was found committing a sexual act with another man and he was charged with criminalized sodomy which was illegal in Georgia. In the court of appeals, this law was deemed unconstitutional. The case was then taken up to the supreme court and the court ruled that sodomy is not protected under the constitution and that states have the right to outlaw it.

American with Disabilities Act

1990

This act was made to prohibit discrimination in the workplace towards people with disabilities. The act brought in a new perspective of having equal rights for all. People in the disable community felt more inclusive in the work environments.

Lawrence v. Texas

2003

2 men were caught engaging in a sexual act which was against the law in Texas. The court of appeals had ruled that the law in Texas was not a violation of constitutional rights under the Due Process clause of the 14th amendment. The supreme court ruled that it was unconstitutional.

Obergefell v. Hodge

2015

There were several plaintiff that had voiced their opposition on the fact the states have bans on same- sex marriages or they do not recognize same-sex marriages that were conducted elsewhere. The court of appeals had ruled that his was not in violation of the 14th amendment. The supreme court decided that the 14th amendment guarantees the right to marry as one of the protected liberties.