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Gibbons v. Ogden
The case of Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) concerned Thomas Gibbons and Aaron Ogden, owners of steamships. A monopoly in subjects about interstate trade, given the contradictory restrictions between the federal and state governments. The Supreme Court's ruling upheld the federal government's control over interstate trade, setting a precedent that shaped constitutional ideas and made it clear that federal law takes precedence over state laws regarding regulating interstate activity. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
In Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), an enslaved African American named Dred Scott sued for his freedom after being transported to a free territory. The case questioned the legitimacy of the Missouri Compromise and whether or not enslaved people should be treated as free in such territory. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's ruling for the Supreme Court ruled that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional and that enslaved people were property rather than citizens. -
The 14th Amendment
In reaction to post-Civil War Reconstruction, the 14th Amendment was passed in 1868 to ensure due process and equal protection for all people, regardless of race. It reversed the historic Dred Scott ruling and addressed the issue of racial inequity. Due to the amendment's guarantee of equal rights and awarding of citizenship, African Americans and other oppressed groups were greatly affected. -
Plessy V. Ferguson
Homer Plessy purposefully broke Louisiana's Separate Car Act in Plessy v. Ferguson 1896, a case challenging racial segregation laws. Establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine, the Supreme Court maintained the validity of state legislation imposing segregation. The legalization of racial segregation by this ruling resulted in decades of institutionalized discrimination until it was overturned. Jim Crow laws were established in part by Plessy v. Ferguson, which maintained racial inequality. -
Suspect Classification
In the 1944 case of Korematsu v. United States, Fred Korematsu contested the validity of Executive Order 9066, which permitted the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. In this case, racial classifications based on ethnicity were unlawful under the Equal Protection Clause about discriminatory treatment. In a contentious ruling, the Supreme Court supported the government's policies that affected Japanese who had to be relocated against their will. -
The case of Brown v. Board of Education.
The "separate but equal" in the famous 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling ruled that state statutes establishing segregated public schools were unconstitutional. Oliver Brown was the primary plaintiff in several lawsuits against school segregation in this case. Even though the verdict attempted to address systematic inequality, opposition to desegregation led to conflict and had unfavorable effects, especially in the South of the United States, where segregation was ingrained. -
Landmark Legislation
Any building or structure with considerable historical, architectural, cultural significance is protected by law under landmark legislation. Cities, states, nations have different rules and regulations. The Senate has been instrumental in drafting laws that have profoundly impacted American politics and culture. A selection of laws and constitutional amendments that have altered the course of American history are included below, with the tales of how the Senate contributed to their enactment. -
Title IX US congress act
Title IX forbids discrimination based on gender in educational programs that receive government funding. It was the outcome of Congress members' efforts from both parties, led by Congresswoman Patsy Mink. Targeted institutionalized discrimination based on gender in athletics, admissions, and scholarships. Title IX has made a big difference by giving women and girls more educational opportunities, advancing gender justice, and influencing laws prohibiting sexual harassment on college campuses. -
Education of all Handicapped Children Act
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) was enacted in 1975. Ensuring that children with disabilities could receive a quality education that met their requirements was the aim. The issue was that children with impairments were frequently excluded from mainstream education. This law benefitted through improved access to special services, inclusive education, and protection from discrimination in schools. -
Pyler v. Doe
Pyler v. Doe 1982 concerned children of unauthorized immigrants and the Tyler Independent School District in Texas. The lawsuit dealt with the children's exclusion from public education as a result of Texas legislation that prohibited enrollment on the grounds of alien status. The Supreme Court decided that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment was breached. Underscores the significance of offering educational opportunities to all students, regardless of immigration status.