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13th Amendment
This amendment abolished slavery in the United States -
14th Amendment
This amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection of the law -
15th Amendment
This amendment granted African Americans the right to vote. -
Jim Crow
Jim Crow wasnt a person it was a song and it turned into the representation of segregation and the seperation between colored and non colored areas. This is why desegregation often played a part with the "Jim Crow Laws." Because of what they represented -
Literacy Tests
Literacy Tests were required tests that you had to pass in order to be able to vote. This was another technique used to try and prevent African Americans from being able to vote. Most African Americans were uneducated therefore they had no chance at passing the test. This ranged from 1890-1960 -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy was in a railway car and decided to sit in the "white only" section. When asked to move to the "black" section of the railway he refused. COurt decided that "seperate but equal services" followed the constitution as long as they were completely equal. -
Poll Taxes
Poll taxes were enforced in Southern States making it hard for African Americans to be able to participate in voting. IT was a requirement to pay a certain fee to vote and most African Americans couldnt make the payment, therefore it enabled them to vote -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment guarentees women the right to vote in a federal election. -
Korematsu v. United States
The president gave the military authority to exclude Japanese citizenship from areas that could be critical to the United states National Defense. Korematsu remained in San Leandro. Courts sided with the United States saying they had the right to exclude him since it was to protect national security. They didnt ban him from the US just certain areas -
Sweatt v. Painter
Sweatt applied to the University of Texas Law School but was automatically rejected admission because he was an African American. Courts decided that the Equal Protection clause required that Sweatt be admitted into the University. It is unequal to deny a man education if he is qualified based on his race -
Brown v. Board of Education
In this case black children were denied admission into certain public schools that white children attended completely because of their race. Even thought the schools are equal in quality the seperation is "inherently unequal in the context of public education" -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
African Americans protested segregated busses by refusing to give up their seats and by peacefully protesting to try and desegregate bus transportation -
Affirmative Action
This is also caled positive discrimination, this is the policy of favoring members of a disadvantaged group who are perceived to suffer from discrimination within a culture -
24th Amendment
This amendment declared that you no longer have to pay a tax in order to vote for any federal position -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against all kinds of race and also provides the federal government with the powers to enforce desegregation. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This law made it easier for the Southern blacks to register to vote. The restrictions that were made to make it harder for African Americans to vote (literary tests, poll taxes) were also made illegal. -
Robert Kennedy Speech
This was a speech Robert Kennedy made after Martin Luther
King Jr. died. In this speech he voiced how even though this was tragic and unjust and even though most people wanted to give into revenge, you cant. To move forward as a Nation its okay to be mad now. But to overcome more madness from occuring and more tradgedies we have to find love and compassion somewhere. -
Reed v. Reed
The son of Sally and Cecil Reed died and his estate was given to Cecil because of the Idaho probate code that stated "males must be preffered to females" Sally went to court and ended up winning becuase this violated the equal rights amendment. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was an amendent that cut out gender based discrimination in the United States. It was not only for women but it could also be applied to men too. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Bakke applied to the University of California twice and the university had 16 minority spots out of 100 reserved as part of their "affirmative action program". Eventhough Bakkes SAT scores and grades exceeded all those that applied he still wasnt accepted. He believed it was because of his race. Courts sided yes. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Hardwick was caught by Georgia police engaging in homoosexual sodomy. After arrested he went to court saying his right to practice consenual sodomy was violated. Courts said that there was no constitutional right protecting sodomy. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation and public accomodations. It gives the equal chances and access as others. -
Lawrence v. Texas
Lawrence was engaging in consentual homosexual sex in his house when police entered and then arrested him and his partner for violating Texas law forbidding sam sex intercourse. Courts sided with Lawrence saying Texas violated the Due Process Law -
Fisher v. Texas
Even though Fisher was not in the top 10% of her class when she applied to the University of Texas she still competed withother non-top 10% students to get in. When she didnt make it she filed law suit saying it was based on her race since Texas took that into consideration. Courts sided with Fisher saying it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause. -
Indiana Gay Rights
On this date US Courts decided to deny review of Court Appeals dealing with gay marraige. This means that same sex couples could get married effective immediatley.
