Civil Rights

By cherby
  • Dred Scott v. Sandford

    Dred Scott v. Sandford

    Scott filed suit in Missouri court for his freedom, claiming that his residence in free territory made him a free man. The Majority ruled in favor of Sandford claiming black people aren’t American citizens. The significance of this case was it set the precedent of how freed slaves would be seen in the eyes of the law.
  • 13th Amendment

    13th Amendment

    The 13th Amendment officially outlawed slavery. The significance of this amendment was slavery became unconstitutional and it started off the Reconstruction era.
  • 14th Amendment

    14th Amendment

    The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. The significance of this amendment was it gave minorities the citizenship they were previously denied because of their ethnic background.
  • Poll Taxes

    Poll Taxes

    Tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable individual linked to the right to vote. The significance of poll taxes was they prevented African Americans from voting due to most of them being poor.
  • 15th Amendment

    15th 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 race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The significance of this amendment was it allowed everyone the right to vote.
  • Plessy v. Ferguson

    Plessy v. Ferguson

    The Court held that the state law was constitutional because separate treatment did not imply the inferiority of African Americans. The significance of this case was it was overturned in the Brown v. Board of Education case and found "separate but equal" to be unconstitutional.
  • 19th Amendment

    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 significance of this amendment was women were finally given the right to vote alongside their male counterparts.
  • White Primaries

    White Primaries

    Primary elections held in the Southern United States in which only white voters were permitted to participate. The significance of white primaries was they violated the 15th Amendment and were officially outlawed in 1944.
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Brown v. Board of Education

    Separate but equal educational facilities for racial minorities is inherently unequal, violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The significance of this case was it overturned the ruling in Plessy. Ferguson and outlawed segregation in schools.
  • 24th Amendment

    24th Amendment

    The 24th Amendment allowed citizens to vote for whoever, whenever. The significance of this amendment was it outlawed poll taxes.
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Civil Rights Act of 1964

    This act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The significance of this act was it gave minorities access to public facilities and allowed them to have equal opportunities in the work place.
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965

    Voting Rights Act of 1965

    Outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting. The significance of this act was it helped push for more equality for minorities by removing possible barriers that prevented them from voting.
  • Affirmitave Action

    Affirmitave Action

    A set of policies and practices within an organization seeking to Increase minorities in the workplace. The significance of Affirmative Action is it helps the disproportionate amount of people of color with opportunities.
  • Reed v. Reed

    Reed v. Reed

    The Supreme court unanimously decided administrators of estates cannot be named in a way that discriminates between sexes. The significance of this case was it was the first time the court held a state law invalid because it discriminated against women.
  • Equal Rights Amendment

    Equal Rights Amendment

    This amendment gave the legal equality of the sexes and prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. The significance of this amendment was it gave women more equality.
  • Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

    Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

    The majority ruled in favor of Regents of the University of California because they were upholding affirmative action. The significance of this case was the Court managed to minimize white opposition to the goal of equality.
  • Bowers v. Hardwick

    Bowers v. Hardwick

    The majority ruled in favor for Bowers because gay sexual acts weren’t protected by the government could be outlawed by the states. The significance of this case was this ruling was overturned in the Lawrence v. Texas case which decided that what two consenting adults do in their bedroom is protected by the government.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    Americans with Disabilities Act

    The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The significance of this act was the rights of disabled people were finally protected by the government.
  • Motor Voter Act

    Motor Voter Act

    Allows Americans to vote when they’re issued a driver’s license. The significance of this act was it allowed more people to vote.
  • Lawrence v. Texas

    Lawrence v. Texas

    The majority ruled in favor of Lawrence because they found it was unconstitutional for same sex sexual activities to be criminalized. The significance of this case was it overturned the ruling of Bowers v. Hardwick and protected the rights of same-sex couples.
  • Obergefell v. Hodges

    Obergefell v. Hodges

    The Supreme court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs because same-sex marriage is protected under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. The significance of this case was it finally gave same-sex couples the same protection given to heterosexual couples.