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Dred Scott v Sandford
Dred Scott argued that residing in a free state made him a free man. Supreme court ruled that since black people were not considered citizens, could not sue in court. -
13th amendment is ratified
13th amendment abolished slavery in the US. -
14th amendment is ratified
No state may make a law that abridges the privelages/rights/immunities of a US citizen -
15th amendment is ratified
grants African American men the right to vote. -
Plessy v Ferguson
Decided that Equal but separate accomodations are not constitutional because they violate the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment. Case was against a railway company that had 'equal but separate' accomodations. -
19th Amendment
States cannot deny the right to vote on the basis of sex. Effectively recognizes women's right to vote. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights amendment is a proposed amendment that guaruntees equal rights for all americans regardless of sex. The amendment has not been passed, but was proposed in december of 1923, and approved by both house and senate in 1971 and 1972, respectively. -
White Primaries
primary elections held in the southern states in which only white voters could vote. Were held often in the 1900s, and Texas had their own law dedicated to having them. In 1944 in Smith v Allwright, the white primary system was voted against 8-1, and the Texas law was abolished. Other states stopped holding them after this case. -
Brown v Board of Education
Decided that Separate but equal educational facilities for racial minorities are inherently violating the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. -
Affirmative Action
Created by John F Kennedy in an executive order that prevents government employers from discriminating "against employees or applicants for employment because of race, creed, color, or national origin" -
24th amendment ratified
Prohibits poll tax in elections for federal officials. -
Poll Taxes
Forced citizens to pay a tax in order to vote in federal elections. Lasted for much time but were abolished with the passing of the 24th amendment -
Civil Rights act of 1964
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
Civil Rights act of 1965
Abolished discriminatory voting practices adopted in the south, such as literacy tests. -
Reed v Reed
Idaho probate code that said males were preferred to females was unconstitutional under the 14th amendment. The case determined that Women and men had the same rights to being named the administrator of an estate. -
Regents of the University of California v Bakke
Bakke was a white student who wished to go to University of California med school, but was denied multiple times, while minority admissions who were accepted were less qualified to attend than him. Supreme court decided that The university of california's method of acceptance on the basis of race was unconstitutional, however, race was allowed to be considered on admissions to universities. -
Bowers v Hardrick
The supreme court ruled that there was no constitutional protection of Sodomy. -
Americans With Disabilities Act
Prohibits Discrimination based on disability. Affords the same protections as the civil rights act of 1964 but for people with disabilities. -
Motor Voter Act
requires state governments to offer simplified voting registration processes for any eligible person who applies for or renews a drivers license. -
Lawrence v Texas
Court ruled that people could engage in conduct without the intervention of the government. -
Obergefell v Hodges
Ruled that same sex marriage was constitutional via the 14th amendment.