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Dred Scott V. Sandford
The Dred Scott decision was a huge case within the supreme court. The supreme court decision on this case was on March 6, 1857. The decision was on Dred Scott since Scott lived in a free state. He argued that he was entitled to his freedom but the court ruled against it. This decision pushed the country closer to civil war. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6th, 1865. This amendment was added after the union victory of the civil war. The 13th Amendment ended slavery across the nation including the southern states. It was the first mention of slavery within the united states. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment was ratified on July 7th, 1868. This amendment was passed shortly after the end of the Civil War. This amendment in general terms gives all persons born or naturalized in the US freedom. This included the slaves recently freed after the end of the civil war. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment was ratified on february 3rd, 1870. The amendment prevented federal and state governments from denying a citizen his right to vote based on his race, color, or previous condition of servitude. -
Poll Tax
Poll tax was first found within the southern states. In 1877 southern states Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Georgia started using Poll taxes. These poll taxes made it difficult for blacks to vote as it was expensive and most couldnt afford it/ -
White Primaries
White primaries were primary elections held in the southern united states. These primaries only allowed white voters to participate.
These primaries were used to limit the black people vote. Multiple instances occurred in other years. Such as in 1902 in Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama. -
Plessy v Ferguson
Plessy vs Ferguson was an extremely important supreme court case. On May 18th, 1896 the supreme court ruled that racial segregation was constitutional as long as it was under the "seperate but equal" doctrine. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was ratified on August 18th, 1920. The amendment states that 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 amendment guaranteed women the right to vote. -
Brown v Board of Education
Brown vs Board of Education case ended on May 5th, 1954. The case is a landmark case for civil rights. The supreme court unanimously ruled that racial segregation within schools was unconstitutional even if the separate facilities were equal. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy on March 6th, 1961. This law is was signed to ensure that applicants for jobs are treated fairly no matter the race, creed, color, or national origin. -
24th Amendment
The 24th Amendment was ratified on January 23, 1964. This amendment abolished the use of a poll tax for all federal elections. The poll tax was a method used by racist white southerners to limit the number of black voters. Most black citizens were poor and unable to afford the poll tax limiting their right to vote. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted July 2, 1964. The law is a landmark civil rights law. The law was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson saw this law as the legacy of John F. Kennedy's presidency. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act was passed on August 6th, 1965. The act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This act was signed to outlaw discriminatory voting practices within the south. It outlawed things such as the literacy tests that were often made to be impossible. -
Reed v. Reed
The case was decided on November 22nd, 1971. The case was about men administrating certain estates over their female counterparts. The suprmeme court ruled it unconsitutional and women were allowed the same inheritance rights as men -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was passed by Congress on March 22nd, 1972. The amendment was not approved by 3/4ths of the 50 states. The Equal Rights Amendment was designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. It also sought to end the legal distinctions between men and women in matters of divorce, property, employment, and other matters. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
The case was decided upon on June 28th, 1978. The case about a man Allan Bakke who applied to the University of California but was denied because of his race even though his test scores were better. The supreme court upheld the case reaffirming affirmative action by allowing race to play a part in college admission. -
Bowers v Hardwick
The case was decieded on June 30th, 1986. Michael Hardwick was in his home engaging in a homosexual act when he was caught by a Gerogia officer. The supreme court ruled in favor of Georgia and declared homosexual acts in private was still illegal if the state deemed it so. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed on July 26th, 1990. The civil rights law was passed to prohibit discrimination based on peoples disabilities. The law requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to those with disabilities. The law was signed by President H.W. Bush -
Lawrence v. Texas
The case was decided on June 26th, 2003. The case overturned the ruling of Bowers v. Hardwick. It stated that laws preventing private homosexual activity between consenting adults was unconstitutional. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
The case was decied upon June 26th, 2015. The supreme court decieded that same-sex marriage was protected under the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th amendment.
