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13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. This amendment provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States". It is because of this amendment that we have equal rights amongst all races in the United States. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment integrated the southern states after the Civil War. Recently-freed slaves' rights were defined due to this amendment. "Deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jursidiction the equal protection of the laws." -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment makes it legal for people of all races to vote. Essentially, this amendment ensures that African Americans now have the right to vote. This also prohibits the Federal and State Governments from denying any citizen the right to vote. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Homer Plessy was arrested for sitting on a white only train car. Plessy was a Creole of Color which meant that he had ancestors that were French, Spanish, or Caribean. Even though he wasn't full black, he willingly sat on the white only car and claimed himself as a black man. The US Court said that Plessy's arrest violated the 13th adn 14th amendment -
Jim Crow
The Jim Crow Laws were a way to rebel against all amendments creating equal rights among blacks and whites. Because of these laws, schools, bathrooms, and waiting areas became segreated. The Jim Crow laws were put in place from the end of Reconstruction (1877) to the beginning of the civil rights movement (1950s). -
Poll Taxes
The purpose of poll taxes were to make it nearly impossible for African-Americans, Native Americans, and poor whites to vote. Essentially, all power would be in the hands of the wealthy. Poll taxes were simply takes one must pay in order to vote. Literacy qualification tests were also implimented for the same effect. The Breedlove vs Suttles Case in 1937 stated that poll taxes were constitutional, however the 24th Amendment (1964) abolished the use of poll taxes. -
Literacy Tests
Similar to poll taxes, literacy tests were set up in order to assure only the white, wealthy citizens had a say. These tests were implemented to assure that African Americans, Native Americans, and poor whites could not vote. It was administered by the state government. Other nations used literacy tests as well, however they used them as a matter of immigration policy rather than keeping citizens from voting. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment guarantees all American women the right to vote. This achievement was done through decades of struggle and protests. It was originally accepted by individual states, but eventionally the entire nation accepted it. This event is also known as woman suffrage. -
Equal Rights Amendment
"Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex". This amendment ensured that women, especially, would have the same rights that men have. Alice Paul, who wrote this amendment, made the decision to further "equal rights/equal justice under law" after the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920. -
Korematsu vs United States
Korematsu vs United States deals with the fact that during World War II, a military commander ordered all citizens with Japanese desent to evacuate the West Coast, and Korematsu failed to comply with these orders. This was a big deal because although singling out one specific racial group is not exactly "acceptable", some restrictions may be necessary in order to protect all citizens. -
Sweatt v. Painter
Heman Marion Sweatt was a black man that applied to the University of Texas Law School. The university rejected him because of his race, but when they found out that Sweatt was taking this to court, the university attempted to make separate but equal facilities. Sweatt was admitted to the university. -
Brown v Board of Education
This case is known as one of the greatest Supreme Court decissions of the 20th century. It was decided that racial segregation in schools went against the Equal Protection Clause and the 14th amendment. It did not integrate schools or races at the time, but it did create more equal facilities. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgumery Bus Boycott was a political protest against the racial segregaton (particularly with the busses) in Alabama. This protest lasted for 13 months, and it was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks. This protest ended with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses is unconstitutional. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action is intended to provide equal opportunities among all minorities and women in terms of education and job opportunities. This is one of the many outcomes of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's. President Kennedy was the first to use this name in 1961 in order to assure equality for all without regard to race, religion, national origin, etc. This is important because it focuses on creating equal opportunites for all. -
24th Amendment
The 24th Amendment prohibits any poll taxes. Before this amendment, taxes were put on polls, or votes, to make it difficult for poor minorities to have a say (by voting). This amendment created a more equal system of voting, -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 revolved around the concept of equal rights among sexes as well as races. Overall, this act eliminated descrimination within schools, workplaces, and general public facilities. Additionally, the fourteenth amendment helped to make this act easier to follow, seeing as how it required equal protection of the laws for all citizens. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 basically enforces the 15th amendment. This amendment outlawed discriminatory voting practices such as poll taxes and literacy tests. Before President Lyndon Johnson passed this law, african americans really count not vote. Taxes were put on polls when they couldn't afford it and litereacy tests were required when they couldn't read. This law made all of that illegal, however which made it possible for african americans to vote freely. -
Robert F. Kennedy Speech
This speech was given by Robert Kennedy in Indianapolis in regard to Martin Luther King's death. Robert Kennedy addresses that MLK was killed by a white man and that the country could either see this as a reason to strengthen racial segregation or to do what MLK would have wanted and strengthen racial integration. The night that MLK was killed, there were riots in about 100 American cities, but Robert Kennedy's speech is remembered as one of the greatest leadership speeches in history. -
Reed v Reed
This case deals strongly with the discrimination of sexes. The Reed's were a divored couple whose adopted son had died. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reed filed petitions seeking appointment as administrator of their son's estate, but Mr. Reed won because men were preferred. This case began the recognition that the 14th amendment covered women's rights as well. -
Regents of the University of California v Bakke
Allan Bakke was a 35 year old white man who applied to the University of California twice. He was rejected both time because the college had reserved 16 spots for "qualified" minorities. Bakke went to the Supreme court arguing that he was rejected solely due to race because his scores were higher than the minorities. He won with a 5 to 4 vote. -
Bowers vs Hardwick
Bowers vs Hardwick consisted of a man being criminally charged for having relations with another man in his home. What went on between the two was completely consentual, however due to the homosexual nature of what occurred, it was proclaimed "illegal" because there was no constitution "protecting the right to engage in homosexual activity." This was overruled in both 1996 and 2003 by two separate court cases (Romer vs Evans and Lawrence vs Texas). -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The reason for this act is to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities. This includes, jobs, schools, transportation, and all private and public places. The five parts of this act are (1) Employment, (2) STate and Local Government, (3) Public Accomadations, (4) Telecommunication, and (5) Miscellaneous Provisions. -
Fisher vs University of Texas
Fisher vs University of Texas consisted of the courts striking down the universitys policy of undergraduate admission based on race. It not only did this, but also made affirmative action more strict in general. This case started because a white woman (Abigail Fisher) was rejected from the University of Texas. She proceeded to claim that she was a victim of racial descrimination due to the fact that minority students who had less impressive credentials had been admitted to the school. -
Gay Rights in Indiana
In early October (2014), the Supreme Court denied review of a federal legal case involving same-sex marriage being considered unconstitutional. Because of the fact that the Supreme Court denied review, this meant that same-sex couples in Indiana were allowed to get married. Indiana was swamped with marriage licenses of homosexual couples immediately. Baskin vs Bogan was the case that brought an end to Indiana's anti-marriage constitution amendment (as well as the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals). -
Lawrence vs Texas
Lawrence vs Texas is the case that overrode Bowers vs Hardwick. In 2003, police found two men engaging in sexual activity and they were arrested under a Texas statute (which essentially said sexual activity between two men is illegal). It was ruled that despite sexual relationships between two men not being a "fundamental right", it is protected under the 14th Amendment.
