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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Scott sued for his and his wife’s freedom in St. Louis Court. They claimed that they were free due to their residence in a free territory where slavery was prohibited. However he was dined his freedom as it was ruled that he was not a citizen and could seek protection from federal courts -
Jim Crow Era
Jim crow era is highlighted by Jim crow laws. Jim crow laws were a way to control African Americans after the civil war. Jim crow laws were primarily used in the south -
13th Amendment
the 13th amendment states that no person can be “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude”. This amendment finally abolished slavery and set the groundwork for the future. The 13th amendment is seen as the amendment that broke the chains of slavery -
14th Amendment
the Fourteenth Amendment granted citizenship to all people "born or naturalized in the United States” this also include those who were slaves. This amendment also overturns Dred Scott v. Sandford which was 10 years prior. The amendment granted equal protect to all citizens under the laws of the united states -
15th Amendment
the 15th amendment granted suffrage to all MEN. A man could not be denied voting because of their “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”. How ever to get around this voting polls in the south required literacy test to be able to vote as a way to stop African American the right to vote -
Plessy v. Ferguson
a U.S. Supreme Court decision in which the Court ruled that racial segregation laws did not violate the U.S. Constitution. This case also crated the phrase separate but equal. This allowed segregation to be legal if facilities were the same however most facilities were equal and an inconvenience to those that used them. -
Nineteenth Amendment
the 19th amendment granted women’s suffrage to those in America. After protest on the streets women finally were able to vote after the 19th amendment was passed. Lead to more women influence in decision making in our government -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education is a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. This means that even if the segregated schools are considered equal in quality, they are illegal. This case also led to the overturning of Plessy vs Ferguson which first instated the separate but equal idea. -
Motor Voter Act
the motor voter law was a bill passed by congress to make it easier for Americans to vote. The law required states to allow voter registration by mail., or when one applies for a driver's license. Over all made the voter registration system we know today -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
the civil rights act of 1964 makes it illegal to discrimination on the based on a person’s race, color, religion, sex or nationality. Allows those of different race, color, religion, sex or nationality to not be discriminated in hiring, promoting, and firing. Allowed equality at the workplace. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative action is the effort to improve employment, educational, and other opportunities for members of groups that have been subjected to discrimination. The purpose of affirmative action is to establish fair access to employment opportunities. Some examples are targeted recruitment, and employee support programs -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, was made to overcome barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African voting which was guaranteed under the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. An example of these barriers is the literacy test used in the south. This made it easier for african american to vote without interference -
Reed v. Reed
after their adopted son died Mr. and Mrs. reed who were fighting over their son's estate. However According to the Probate Code in idaho, Mr. reed was appointed administrator because he was male. However, this case made it so both genders were considered equally in these situations. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. It was passed by the senate but there was not enough states to ratify it. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Supreme Court case which held that a university’s admissions could not stop a person’s admission because of race. In this case the university was trying to have more diversity and rejected a white male just because he was white and wasn’t a minority. This was found as unconstitutional by the supreme court. -
Bowers v. Hardwick Texas
this court decision found that the Fourteenth Amendment does not prevent a state from criminalizing private sexual conduct involving same-sex couples. This made it illegal to have any sexual interaction between same sex couples even if its in the pricy of your own home. This case would later be overturned in the Lawrence v. Texas case. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
makes it possible for people with disabilities to participate in the everyday commercial, economic, and social activities of American life. Also make it a requirement that builds are accessible for people with certain disability’s -
Lawrence v. Texas
like the Bowers v. Hardwick Texas case this also involved actions in a private home. However The court unlike in the Bowers v. Hardwick Texas case ruled that the Texas statute making it a crime for two persons of the same sex to engage in certain intimate sexual conduct violates the Due Process Clause. This took a step towards fully legalization of same sex couples as it overturned Bowers v. Hardwick Texas. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
this case required that all states recognize and license same sex couples. The court found that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees the right to marry as one of the fundamental liberties it protects. They also found that same sex marriage is not excluded from the constitutions protection.