-
Dred Scott v. Stanford
Supreme Court ruled that Americans of African descent, whether free or slave, were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court, the Court also ruled that Congress did not have the power to ban slavery in United States territories. This improved the standings of southern states constitutionally and made it more difficult for the northern states to ban slavery. -
13th Amdendment
Established that slavery and involuntary servitude, unless it is used as punishment for a crime where the party has been convicted cannot exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction. In simple terms it basically abolished slavery within the United States and any of her territories. -
14th Amendment
Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves. This Amendment also guarantees "Equal protection of the laws", this was however not enforced in the southern states during the reconstruction period. One of the three Amendments passed during the reconstruction era to abolish slavery and establish rights for African Americans and other minorities. -
15th Amendment
Stated that the right of citizens to vote cannot be denied or abridged by the United States or any of the States on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This theoretically ensured the right to vote for former slaves and free African Americans however the Amendment was loosely enforced and many southern states found ways of limiting the rights of minorities despite it. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
A landmark Supreme Court case which upheld the constitutional validity of racial segregation under the "separate bur equal" doctrine. The case stemmed from a 1892 incident in which an African American was forced to sit on a separate car which was designated for blacks. This case also made it difficult to challenge the foundation of racial segregation. -
19th Amendment
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex. This Amendment granted women the right to vote and ended the long battle for the right to vote from women. -
White Primaries
Many southern states, Texas especially, were attempting to keep African Americans and other minorities from having a voice in the elections. In 1923 Texas passed a law that banned African Americans from participation in the Democratic Party's primary elections. This tactic was used in multiple southern states and was very prominent in the Democratic Party who was very prevalent in the south during the reconstruction Era. -
Brown v. Board of Education
A landmark Supreme Court case in which the Court unanimously ruled that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. This case is seen as the first steps towards the complete desegregation of the United States. Followed my multiple laws and also pushed the fight for equal rights across the United States. -
24th Amendment
Established that the right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for president, vice president, or electors for president or vice president, senators, or representatives, cannot be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any pol tax or other tax. This Amendment basically outlawed the practice of enforcing poll taxes in the United States. -
Affirmative Action
A policy that takes into account an individual's color, race, sex, religion, or national origin in order to increase opportunities provided to and underrepresented part of society. Meant to increase employment opportunities a workforce that is an accurate reflection of the types of people qualified and available for the relevant job or profession. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Congress passed public law 88-342 which prohibits the discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or nationality. The act in theory would help to curb the rampant racism and discrimination in the south, poor enforcement of the laws however greatly reduced the effectiveness. There were also provisions in the act banning the practice of hiring, promoting, and firing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or nationality. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Outlawed any discriminatory practices in regard to voting, which were largely adopted by southern states, after the civil war. Practices such as literacy tests, which were very prevalent in the Southern states were outlawed, making it harder for states to disenfranchise minorities. The act was also seen as a way to better enforce the fifteenth Amendment. -
Poll Taxes
The practice of having a poll tax increased in popularity after the civil was and during the era of reconstruction. The practice involved making those who wished to vote pay a tax before being able to. This was very popular in the south as a way to prevent African Americans and other minorities from voting. -
Reed v. Reed
An Idaho Probate Code stated that males must be preferred to females in appointing administrators of estates. A family challenged this code under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because it is discriminatory against a group of people based on their gender. The Supreme Court unanimously decided that the law's dissimilar treatment of men and women was unconstitutional. -
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
An Amendment proposed in 1972 which was quickly ratified by 35 of 38 of the states needed for it to become a part of the constitution. Even with the seven year window for ratification as well as an extension of three years, no additional states signed. The Amendment, as proposed, would guarantee legal rights to all American citizens regardless of sex. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
The Supreme Court ruled that the use of racial quotas by universities in the admissions process was unconstitutional, the use of "affirmative action" to accept more minority applicants in some circumstances. This ruling helped to protect certain individual rights by ending the use of quotas. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Before this court case the act of engaging in homosexual actions was very illegal. The court in this case ruled, in a divided court, that the act of sodomy was not implicitly protected in the constitution and so they could not say that it is a right afforded to the people. The other half of the court argued that the court had previously established and protected rights not explicitly stated as protected in the constitution. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Much like the Equal Rights Amendment, the ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas such as employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications, and access to state and local government programs and services. This act added multiple restrictions and new qualifications for buildings to meet in order to give access to people with disabilities. -
Lawrence v. Texas
As opposed to Bowers v. Hardwick, where the court ruled that they could not protect homosexual acts, the court ruled 6-3 that a Texas statute making it a crime for two persons of the same sex to engage in certain intimate sexual conduct violates the Due Process Clause. This both overturned Bowers v. Hardwick and multiple state and local laws which banned homosexual acts. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
An extension of Lawrence v. Texas to a higher degree. Provided that state bans on same-sex marriage and on recognizing same-sex marriages performed outside of their jurisdiction are unconstitutional under the due process and equal protection clauses of the fourteenth Amendment. Considered a large victory for both human rights and individual rights.
