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US Constitution is Created
The US Constitution is created and assumes the idea of the rights of a US Citizen but does not define who is a US Citizen. References
United States Constitution (September 17, 1787). -
Dread Scott Decsion
Dread Scott v. Sanford
The US Supreme Court held a majority opinion that people of African descent could not hold citizenship. This was against the dissenting opinion which acknowledged that free-blacks had since the beginning of the US been recognized as citizens by many states. References
Dread Scott v. Sanford, 60 US 393 (US Supreme Court March 6, 1857). -
The 14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment gave citizenship to all persons of US birth. This was specifically focused on African-Americans. It did not say what benefits were given to all citizens. Women at this time did not receive full benefit. Neither did Native Americans who were part of the Indian Nations although in the United States. References
US Const. XIV Amend. (July 9, 1868). -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment was added to ensure that the right to vote was granted to all citizens regardless of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude" References
US Const. XV Amend. (February 3, 1870). -
United States v. Wong Kim Ark
The United States Supreme Court decision stated that US Citizenship was granted to any child born in the United States regardless of parental citizenship excluding diplomats. References
US v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 US 649 (US Supreme Court March 28, 1898). -
The 19th Amendment
"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." The 19th Amendment ensured that women would have the right to vote as they were due by citizenship. References
US Const. XIX Amend. (August 18, 1920). -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark US Supreme Court that deemed separate but equal unconstitutional. This originally only applied to public school education, but its decision was applied to other areas of segregation which had previously been upheld in Plessy v. Ferguson. References
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (US Supreme Court May 17, 1954). -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, religion, sex, and was later modified to include sexual orientation. References
US Civil Rights Act of 1964 (July 2, 1964).