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Dred Scott and his wife sued for their freedom in 1857. They had lived in a free territory in Wisconsin. Scott lost his case and it made its way all the way to the US supreme court. The supreme court made the decision that slaves were not citizens and could not have protection from the federal government or the courts. -
The 13th amendment was passed by Congress in January of 1865 and ratified on December 6, 1865. It abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. -
The 14th amendment granted citizenship and equal legal and civil rights to African Americans and enslaved people who had been freed after the civil war. -
The 15th amendment was passed in 1869 but was ratified in 1870. The 15th amendment was the right of US citizens to vote and it can not be denied based on race, color, or if they were enslaved. -
The court upheld separate but equal doctrine. Plessy was 1/8th African American and bought a ticket for a seat in the whites only car but because he had African American blood was asked to move to the "colored races" car and when he denied was arrested and jailed. -
The 19th amendment was passed in 1919 and ratified in 1920. The 19th amendment gave US citizen women the right to vote. -
White Primaries were primary elections in southern states that only white voters were allowed to vote. -
The Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in schools violated the 14th amendment of the constitution. -
The 24th amendment prohibited the poll tax in elections for federal officials. -
Poll Taxes were fees people had to pay to be able to vote in federal elections. Were prohibited under the 24th amendment. -
The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. -
A policy aimed at increasing workplace or educational opportunities for underrepresented parts of society. -
Outlawed the discriminatory voting practices in many southern states, like literacy tests. -
Was a huge decision by the supreme court saying that the administrators of estates can't be named in an order that discriminates based on sex. -
An amendment that was proposed to invalidate state and federal laws that discriminate against women. -
Supreme Court ruled that the universities use of racial "quotas" in the admissions process was unconstitutional but "affirmative action" to accept minority applicants was constitutional in some circumstances. -
Supreme Court ruled that the constitution does not protect the rights of gay adults to engage in private and consensual sodomy. -
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all aspects including jobs, education, transportation, and all places open to the general public (whether they be public or private). -
Made regulations for states to including voter registration forms sent in the mail to help people who are able and have the chance to vote. -
Supreme Court ruled that Texas state law criminalizing sodomy between two consenting adults of the same sex was unconstitutional. This invalidated sodomy law in every US state and territory. -
Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex couples who sued for the validity of their marriages across state lines. It was ruled that laws that made same-sex marriage illegal violated the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment.