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Dred Scott V. Sandford
Dredd Scott was taken to free territory by his enslaver. He tried to sue for freedom since he had crossed over. The court didn't rule in his favor. Instead, they ruled that enslaved people were not US citizens, therefore many constitutional privileges did not apply to them. And ruled courts can't ban slavery in US territories. -
13th Amendment
this amendment abolished slavery and its forms (ex. involuntary servitude) -
14th Amendment
granted and established citizenship to all citizens. Two of the biggest clauses under this being due process and equal protection. -
15th Amendment
The right to vote could not be denied on the basis of race. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Answered the question is racial segregation legal? Courts rules that it did not violate the constitution as long as equal in quality. Known as "the separate but equal" doctrine. Sustained the constitutionality of Jim Crow Laws. -
19th Amendment
Prohibits denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. Geared towards giving women the right to vote. -
Brown V. Board of education
Ruled that separate schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional even if they are equal in quality. Famous "doll test" conducted by John Marshall, the lawyer for the NAACP at the time. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public places and jobs. Signed by Lyndon B. Johnson -
Affirmative Action
set of procedures designed to eliminate unlawful discrimination among applicants. Ex. colleges used it to give fair consideration to students of color. -
Title IX
Prohibits the limitation of educational opportunities and jobs on the basis of sex. -
Equal Rights Amendment
Guarantees legal gender equality overall. Some of this includes divorce, property, employment, etc. but never passed as not all states accepted it. (never got to 38) -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Ruled in favor of Bakke stating racial quotas violated the equal protection law under the 14th amendment. UCB made a system where white students could only compete for 84/100 spots as the rest were left to racial minorities. Bakke, a white male, took it to the SC and won. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Answered whether or homosexual sex was legal. The courts ruled the const. doesn't protect the rights of gay adults to engage in private, consensual sodomy. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in multiple aspects like employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications, an access to state and local government programs and services. -
Voter ID Laws
laws requiring citizens to how a gov-issued ID in order to vote. -
Shelby County v Holder
The decision in this case weakened the voting rights act. Texas didn't need preclearence for changing electoral rules. SC called section 4 unconstitutional. -
Obergefell v Hodges
Decision protecting the 14th Amendment by stating same sex marriage was legal and to recognize said marriages even when performed out of state.