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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri and gained freedom going to Illinois. Scott argued that he should now have freedom in Missouri after gaining freedom in a free state. This U.S. Supreme Court case was a 7-2 decision in favor of Sandford. This case led the Court to declare that the U.S. Constitution did not specify Black people as American citizens so they shall not have the rights of an American. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment is the amendment that abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. The House of Representatives passed the amendment with 119-56. President Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865 and the amendment was finally ratified but the states in December. This is the first of three of the Reconstruction Amendments that occurred after the Civil War. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment declares citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. and gave equal citizenship to African Americans and enslaved people who were free after the Emancipation Proclamation. This amendment also gave equal protection under law, representation in government, punishment for involvement in rebellion, and exempts the government from paying off Confederate debt. This is the second of the three Reconstruction Amendments. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment gave the right to vote to men of any race or color. Although seemingly progress for Black men, there were soon barriers created that limited their ability to exercise their right to vote. This is the third of the three Reconstruction Amendments. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy, a Black man, took a seat in a "Whites Only" train car, refused to leave, and was arrested. This Supreme Court case was declared a 7-1 decision in favor of Ferguson. This Court stated that segregation did not necessarily constitute discrimination. This is often referred to the "separate but equal" doctrine. -
Jim Crow Era
This era was the time period with Jim Crow laws from roughly 1877-1960s. These laws were used to marginalize Black Americans by implementing racial segregation within society. This included segregating things such as, parks, schools, restaurants, cemeteries, water fountains, and restrooms. -
Nineteenth Amendment
The 19th Amendment grants American women the right to vote. This is also referred women's suffrage. Despite this amendment and the efforts of Black women, additional barriers continued to restrict their ability to vote. This included things like poll taxes, literacy tests, and sometimes violence. -
Brown v. Board of Education
In this Supreme Court case the Court unanimously declared segregation in public schools as unconstitutional. It helped emphasize that the results of Plessy v. Ferguson stating, "separate but equal", was not accurate in reality. This case was extremely vital in the progress of the Civil Rights movement for Black Americans. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act put an end to public discrimination and segregation based on race, sex, color, national origin, and religion. This act made a huge stride for many Americans fighting for equal rights during the Civil Rights movement. The act was initially proposed by John F. Kennedy however, it was ultimately signed by Lyndon B. Johnson. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act helped prevent barriers from limiting Black Americans from voting. This included banning literacy tests (that were made to be extremely difficult to restrict voters), provided federal protection for Black voters, and allowed federal oversight on poll taxes. Lyndon B. Johnson signed this act in the presence of Martin Luther King Jr. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action is the effort to support those who have been discriminated against by improving their education and employment. This action can be based on race, gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation, etc. This began with President Lyndon B. Johnson in attempts to progress the Civil Rights movement's goals however, is still widely discussed today. -
Reed v. Reed
In this Supreme Court Case, Idaho Probate Code stated that in the case of appointing an administrator to an estate males must be preferred to females. Sally Reed challenged her ex-husband in court to be appointed administrator of their son's estate. The Court ruled unanimously in favor of Sally Reed due to the violation of the 14th Amendment. -
Equal Rights Amendment
This amendment is a proposed amendment for secured equal rights for women that has yet to be fully ratified. In 1972 the amendment was passed in Congress and was sent to be ratified by the states. June 30, 1982 was the deadline that Congress gave the states to ratify the amendment and it was failed to be met. However, in January 2020 Virginia became the most recent state to ratify the amendment. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
In this Supreme Court case, a young white man, Allen Bakke argued that he was rejected from the University of California Medical School at Davis twice based on race rather than not qualifying. The Court ruled 8-1 in favor of Bakke. The Court essentially stated that if a university was simply filling a racial "quota" it was unconstitutional however, affirmative action could still be found constitutional. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
In this Supreme Court case, Hardwick was seen in the act of homosexual sodomy by a police officer in his home and was charged. The Court decision was 5-4 in favor of Bowers. This meant there was not a constitutional right to privacy when it came to consensual homosexual sodomy. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in public life. This means that public buildings, transportation, jobs, schools, and other public places have to ensure equal access to all. This act helped progress the Civil Rights movement for gaining equality for disabled Americans. -
Motor Voter Act
The Motor Voter Act is also referred to as the National Voter Registration Act. This act allows American citizens to register to vote when they receive a drivers license and use mail-in registration. This was in attempt to make registering to vote an easier task. However, things like having to present your identification when voting can actually limit voting from marginalized groups. -
Lawrence v. Texas
John Lawrence was intruded upon by police when engaging in a consensual sexual act with another man and was arrested. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of Lawrence. This meant that same-sex sexual activity was now legal in every state in the U.S. essentially invalidating the previous sodomy law. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Groups of same-sex couples began to sue various state agencies for declaring bans on same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision in favor of Obergefell. The Court said that the due process and equal protection clauses under the 14th Amendment were violated. This case guaranteed the right to marry as a fundamental liberty, securing same-sex couples getting married.