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Dred Scott was originally a slave in Missouri, but upon moving to Ohio (a free state where slavery was forbidden) he sought his freedom. However, the SCOTUS ruled that as he was the ancestor of imported slaves, so he is property and therefore not a citizen he has no standing in court. This is important today as this ruling was later overturned and this case is now infamous as one of the worst rulings in U.S. history. -
This amendment was created at the Conclusion of the Civil War. It essentially outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude. It is still important today as it was the precursor to the civil rights movement which is still prevalent today. -
It essentially gave citizenship to African Americans, also saying that no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty and property without due process along with stating equal protection of laws. This due process clause allowed for the future incorporation of the amendments to the states. This battle of incorporation is still going on today. -
Allows African American men the right to vote. This allowed the start of African American political power in the United States. This amendment is still in effect today. -
One of the most infamous Supreme Court rulings in American history, Plessy v Ferguson ruled segregation legal claiming "separate but equal". It would eventually be struck down but that wouldn't happen until decades later. This ruling enabled the Jim Crow Era. Although now dead this ruling still remains prevalent today as it different modern cases are often compared to this one. -
This amendment guarantees women the right to vote. It was the fruits of the Women's suffrage movement. This was also the beginning of women political power in the United States that today has formed many political organizations such as SFL, NWL and others that are very much still active today. -
Overturned Plessy v Ferguson claiming that segregation in schools is unconstitutional even if they are equal in quality. This ended almost 60 years of legal segregation in America. This ruling is still used to and referred to today especially in cases of inner-city schools versus out of city schools. -
Jim Crow laws were laws introduced primarily in the south in order to segregation African Americans and whites. These laws last until the 1960s. Even despite 'officially' bei ng over there is much debate about the legacy and remains of the Jim Crow Era. -
Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. This in effect was the fruits of the civil rights movement in America, outlawing legal segregation. However, this amendment would take decades to be fully enacted across the country. This amendment is still commonly used today in cases of religious discrimination and the like. -
This law attempted to overcame state made barriers to voting by minorities. Such barriers included the poll tax, literacy test, and the grandfather clause. This law was made to further carry out the 15th amendment guaranteeing African Americans the right to vote, as they do today. However, some do still argue that they are not given full access to vote even today. -
This is the idea of allocating resources to and favoring individuals regarded as a part of disadvantaged groups. This is most commonly opposed by white people as it oftentimes subjects them to higher standards than those of minority groups and is technically discrimination. However, it is the interest of the state that makes it acceptable in certain circumstances. The significance is that this heavily used in the college admissions processes today. -
There was a couple that was separated and upon their son's death fought each other for his estate and because of Idaho law stating that in such cases the man has automatic priority, so the husband won. The wife sued and the case went to the supreme court where they unanimously ruled that the law was unconstitutional in violation the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment with declared equality between the sexes. This relates today as some still fight for equality of the sexes. -
It is a proposed amendment that would supposedly guarantee legal gender equality for men and women regardless of sex. Opponents claim it would end distinctions between men and women in matters of marriage, divorce, property, employment and other matters. This amendment was drafted Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman in 1920, it is still an ongoing debate today. -
A white man applied to the University of California medical school twice and was repeatedly rejected despite having a higher GPA and scoring higher than the guaranteed 16 out 100 applicants of minority races. He sued the university for discrimination based on race it went up to the supreme court. They ruled in Bakke's favor however at the same time they extended gains for minorities in affirmative action. This program still causes great debates today especially among the Ivies. -
A man was caught in sodomy by a Georgia officer, the act was illegal in Georgia he took the state to court it went to the SCOTUS where they ruled there was no constitutional grounding of protecting such acts found to be "implicit to the concept of ordered liberty" or "deeply rooted in the nation's history or tradition" so in a close decision they ruled against the gay man. However, this is prevalent today since now it is allowed whereas it wasn't then. -
The Americans with Disabilities Act also known as the ADA prohibits discrimination based on disabilities. This act has several sections that relate to matters of public and private life. This legislation is crucial today for millions of Americans myself included. -
This Act in effect simplified the voting process by requiring states to make it easier to get access to voting registration such as through means of driver's license renewal, public assistance, etc. It also prohibits states from removing registered voters unless certain criteria are met. This is still relevant today as there is much debate about voter ID laws that are directly linked to this act, allowed under the Election Clause of the Constitution. -
This ruling overturned Bowers v Hardwick 1983 in which two men caught in sodomy then was not protected by the Constitution whereas in this case it is declared protected under the "Due Process Clause" of the 14th amendment. This became the precursor case to Oberfell v Hodges. -
This case legalized same sex marriage after several same sex couples sued their states. The case was ruled on party lines 5-4. It was reasoned under the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th amendment. it is dominant today as the ruling has greatly spurred on the LGBTQ movement of today.
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