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The United States Constitution
Gave citizens the power when it came to the United States government. Created the structure behind the U.S government. Excluded - Woman, African Americans, Enslaved, and Indigenous people. Included - White men who would considered citizens with voting rights. -
Naturalization Act
Set the first rules for determining the qualification of white immigrants to be considered a U.S citizen. Excluded - Black people, Asians, Enslaved, Native Americans and Non Whites. Included - Free white people who lived in the U.S for 2 or more years. -
Dred Scott V. Sandford
A court ruled decision that stated all African Americans both enslaved and free do not have the right or opportunity to be U.S Citizens. Excluded - Increased exclusion of African Americans. -
The Presidency of Abraham Lincoln
The administration of Lincoln was a major challenger to the Dred Scott case since they wanted free African Americans to considered U.S citizens. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Made it required for all people born in the U.S be considered citizens as it was their birthright to have citizenship no matter their race. Excluded - Native Americans not taxed. -
14th Amendment
Created and granted citizenship of the U.s and the state they were born in as a birthright for all people regardless of their race with specific groups excluded. Excluded - Indigenous people and Non White immigrants were still not granted citizenship. -
15th Amendment
Forbid the ability to deny the right to vote based on race. Jim Crow laws gave certain states the power to find ways around this prohibition and were able to take this away from African American citizens. -
Civil Rights Cases
A Supreme Court case that turned down laws created during the reconstruction era in the effort of protecting African American from discrimination of race but allowed private discrimination. -
Plessy V Ferguson
The Supreme Court’s decision during Plessy V Ferguson strengthened segregation but mandated equal public accommodations for both African Americans and Whites.