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Dread Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri and he moved to illinios which is a free state. When he returned to Missouri he wanted his freedom because his residence in free territory made him a free man. He lost the case and his master said that no negro could be a citizen according to the Constitution. -
13th Amendment
Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment or a crime. It protected the rights of newly freed people. -
14th Amendment
Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States- including former slaves and guaranteed all citizens equal protection of the laws. -
15th Amendment
The right of citizens of the Unites States to vote should not be denied by any State because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This act separated railway cars for blacks and whites. Homer Plessy was 7/8ths Caucasian but was technically black under Louisiana law. He was told to vacate the whites only car, but he refused and was arrested. Plessy's lawyers argues that it violated the 13th and 14th amendments. The judge found that Louisiana could enforce this law so Plessy was convicted. -
19th Amendment
The right of citizens of the United States to vote should not be denied by account of sex. -
White Primaries
A method used by white Democrats to disenfranchise most black and other minority voters. -
Brown v. Board of Education
African American students were denied admittance to certain public schools based on laws allowing public education to be segregated by race. It was argued that it violated the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th amendment. They were denied because it was legal as long as the facilities we separate but equal for both races. -
Affirmative Action
It's a policy in which an individual's color, race sex, religion or national origin are taken into account to increase opportunities provided to an underrepresented part of society. Businesses and government entities want to increase the number of people with different races in certain areas. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
It's a landmark for civil rights and labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national, origin. It also prohibits unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools and employment. -
Poll Taxes
a tax levied on every adult, without reference to income or resources. -
24th Amendment
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election can not denied because of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
It's a landmark for federal legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. -
Reed v. Reed
it said that males must be preferred to females in appointing administrators of estates. After the death of their adopted son, both Sally and Cecil Reed wanted to be named administrator of their son's estate. Cecil was appointed administrator and Sally challenged the law in court. -
Equal Rights Amendment
It guarantees equal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. It seeks to end the legal distinctions between men and women in matters of divorce, property, employment, and other situations. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Allan Bakke was a white man who applied twice to the University of California Medical School at Davis but was rejected both times. Bakke's qualifications exceeded those of any of the minority students admitted and took it to court. It turned out he was excluded from admission only on the basis of race. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Michael Hardwick was observed by a Georgia police officer while in the act of consensual homosexual sodomy with another adult in his house. He was charged for violated a Georgia statute that criminalized sodomy. Hardwick challenged it in court and the court said that Georgia's statute was unconstitutional. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
It's a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability in areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public places. -
Lawrence v. Texas
Houston police entered John Lawrence's apartment responding to a reported weapons disturbance when they saw him and another man engaging in consensual sexual activity. The two men were both arrested and convicted of deviate sexual intercourse in violation of a Texas statute. The state court appeals saying that the statute was not unconstitutional under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Group of same sex couples sued their relevant state agencies in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee to challenge the constitutionality of those states' bans on same sex marriage. The case argued that it violated the Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause. It said that the states' bans on same sex marriage and refusal to recognize marriages performed in other states did not violate the couples' 14th amendment rights to equal protection.
