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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott and his wife Harriet, who were enslaved, sued for their freedom because they lived in a free territory. After his losses in the Missouri courts due to the majority opinion "enslaved people were not citizens of the United States" and that "Congress had no authority to ban slavery from a federal territory." This ultimately led to Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's decision in the Supreme Court that ruled against Dred Scott. This only heightened tensions between the North and the South. -
13th Amendment
During the Civil War Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation with the intention of freeing the slaves. This wasn't successful because it only applied to the areas of the confederacy that were in a state of rebellion. He realized a constitutional amendment would be necessary to end all slavery. Initially turned down in the House, Lincoln fought for the bill to pass and finally did in 1865. The amendment officially stated neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in the US. -
14th Amendment
This amendment was part 2 of 3 of the state's Reconstruction program post-Civil War. A major provision stating citizenship was granted to anyone born or naturalized in the United States. Another major provision was the statement no one can be denied due process or equal protection of law. It intended to nationalize the Bill of Rights which would make it applicable to the States which for many years the court ruled against. Also, the amendment initially failed to protect African Americans. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment gave African American men the right to vote but it wasn't as simple as that. Literacy tests and "Grandfather Clauses" made it nearly impossible for black voters. Other methods of disenfranchisement were written into laws of former confederate states. -
Plessy V. Ferguson
With the passage of an 1887 Florida law, states began to require railroads would have separate cars for black people. In 1981 a group of frustrated black men decided to test this on intrastate travel by Homer Plessy, who was 1/8 black, who sat in a "white" car. He was challenged by the conductor charged for violating state law. His lawyer argued "separate but equal" was unconstitutional, yet Judge Ferguson ruled against him. He appealed to SCOTUS which sustained constitutionality of the law. -
19th Amendment
Beginning in the mid 19th century women's suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied and practiced civil disobedience to gain their right to vote. New York adopting woman's suffrage in 1917 President Wilson began to support the amendment. In 1919 Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment which reached 3/4 of the states. In 1920 the amendment was ratified, yet many women still couldn't vote well into the 20th century because of the discriminatory state voting laws. -
Brown V. Board of Education
African American students were being denied access to certain public schools based on laws that allowed public schools to be separated by race. They argued this segregation violated the Equal Protection Clause. Chief Justice Earl Warren delivered the monumental ruling that "separate but equal educational facilities for racial minorities is inherently unequal" Which violated the 14th amendment. The court reasoned segregation was instilling a sense of inferiority in African American children. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
In 1963 President Kennedy publicly urged the nation to provide equal treatment to every American despite race. He wanted Congress to issue legislation that would address voting rights, public accommodation, school desegregation and more. After his assassination, President Johnson signed the act in 1964. This outlawed segregation or discrimination in businesses and public places like swimming pools, libraries and schools, but this wasn't a permanent fix. -
24th Amendment
Following the Civil War, the Fifteenth Amendment, guaranteeing the right to vote to former slaves was adopted. The 24th Amendment was adopted as a response to policy adopted in Southern states after the Reconstruction to limit political participation of African Americans. It prohibited federal and state governments from imposing poll taxes before a citizen could participate in a federal election which applied to all voters regardless of race gearing towards more fair elections and voting. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This was signed into law 95 years after the 15th amendment that "gave African American men the right to vote." Peaceful protest for voting rights has led to violence bringing attention to the issue. White state troopers attacking peaceful marchers in Selma gained national attention, leading congress to pass the act in 1965. This outlawed literacy tests and any new voting practices or procedures had to be cleared. Any citizen, any race or gender could now vote. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was initially proposed in 1923 in an effort to achieve full equity for women and end legal distinctions between genders in divorce, property, employment and more. It was never ratified but was gradually achieved with victories like the Voting Rights Act of 1965 granting the right for all women. In 1972 it met the threshold and Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment with more than the 2/3rds required. -
Title IX
Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or federally funded activities. Institutions must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner free of discrimination based on sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity. Also no one may intimidate those who have been affected by Title IX's regulations. -
Regents of the University of California V. Bakke
Allan Bakke was a white man who applied to UC Med School twice and was rejected. To prevent minority exclusions the University reserved 16/100 spots for "qualified" minorities. Bakke had a stronger GPA and test scores than any minority student admitted the past 2 years. His case made it to SCOTUS where he claimed he was denied admission because he wasn't a minority. The court ruled for him saying using racial quotas for admissions violated the EP Clause and is allowed in certain circumstances. -
Bowers V. Hardwick
Michael Hardwick was seen in his home engaging in consensual homosexual sodomy and was charged for violating Georgia law that prohibited it. he challenged constitutionality but failed to state a claim and the court dismissed. On appeal the court ruled Georgia's statute was unconstitutional, which Georgia's attorney general appealed to the SCOTUS. The court found there was no constitutional protections for sodomy and a state could outlaw it. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action was initiated by President Johnson in order to improve opportunities for African Americans. It has consisted of policies, programs, and procedures that give limited spots to minorities and women. This use of racial quota and minority "spots" has led to courts challenging affirmative action due to "reverse racism." This caused the Supreme Court to impose restrictions on racial affirmative action in 1989. The court is continuing to take on affirmative action cases to this day. -
Americans With Disabilities Act
The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in daily life like jobs, school, transportation and public places. This is to ensure people with disabilities are receiving fair and equal opportunities. For example, employers cannot question disability before a job is offered and they're required to make reasonable accommodation to their limitations of otherwise qualified individuals. -
Voter ID Laws
Before casting a ballot, most states require proof of identity, some stricter than others. The first U.S. voter ID Law was adopted in SC in 1950. By 1980 four other states passed similar laws. Some have alleged that voter ID Laws don't follow the Equal Protection Clause and others think they violate the right to vote itself. Despite this the laws still stand in one form or another in 36 states. The other 14 and Washington DC don't require any documentation to vote. -
Shelby County V. Holder
Shelby County Alabama filed that 2 sections of the VRA were unconstitutional. Section 5 prohibits districts from changing election laws without official approval. 4b defines eligible districts as ones that had voting tests in place by November 1, 1964, and less than 50% turnout in 1964 election. The court held congress didn't exceed its powers by reauthorizing section 5 and 4b was still relevant to voting discrimination. Section 4 of VR Act was ruled unconstitutional as an unnecessary burden. -
Obergefell V. Hodges
Same sex couples began suing their states to question the constitutionality of their states bans on same sex marriage. This was based on the argument they were violating the equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause. In a 5-4 decision the Supreme Court ruled the Due Process Clause of the fourteenth amendment guarantees the right to marry for same sex and opposite sex couples. The states aren't allowed to deny same sex couples the right to marry.