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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was a slave from Missouri who lived in the free state of Illinois from 1833 to 1843, and in the free Louisiana Territory. When he returned to Missouri, he filed for his freedom. The court ruled that Dred Scott, since being a slave whose ancestors were imported, was not a US citizen, and therefore had no right to sue in federal court. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment to the Constitution officially outlawed slavery in the United States, unless punishment for a crime where the person is rightfully convicted. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment states that all persons born in the United States are citizens, and the states cannot make any laws that undermine the privileges that citizens have to life, liberty, and property. The second section of the amendment states that if the states deny voting rights to all men 21 and older, their representation will decrease. -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment states that the right to vote may not be denied on basis of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This allowed freed slave men to vote. -
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Poll Taxes
Poll taxes began in the 1890s and lived on until the 24th amendment abolished them. They were a legal way to keep African Americans from voting. There was a "grandfather clause" incorporated in the poll taxes saying that if their ancestors could vote before the civil war, they were exempt from the poll tax. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Louisiana had enacted the separate car act, where black and white passengers had to be in separate cars. Homer Plessy was 7/8 caucasian and was asked to sit in the whites-only car. On the train, Plessy was asked to move cars but refused. The case established separate but equal in the united states saying that separate didn't imply inferiority from the 14th amendment. -
19th Amendment
The 19th amendment allows women the right to vote. The issue was argued for decades, beginning in the early 1800s. Wyoming was the first state to grant voting right to women in 1869 -
White Primaries
White primaries were used as a way to stop back citizens from voting. Many southern states like Texas used white primaries and kept doing so until 1944 when Smith v. Allwright declared that the white primaries were unconstitutional since they allowed a political party to discriminate. -
Brown v. Board of Education
African American students had been denied admission into public schools in multiple states, including in Topeka, Kansas. Brown argued that this violated the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. In a unanimous decision, the court held that separate but equal was inherently unequal and that the separation in schools violated the 14th amendment. -
24th Amendment
This amendment abolished poll taxes. It states that the right of citizens to vote at any primary or any election cannot be denied by poll tax or any other tax. -
Civil Right Act of 1964
This act ended segregation in the United States on the basis of sex, color, religion, or origin. It was heavily opposed by southern congress members but eventually was passed by President Johnson. In the Senate, the bill faced a 75-day filibuster by southern democrats to try to kill the bill. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action tries to improve working and educational conditions for minorities and women. It gave small preferences to women and minorities in jobs and in university admissions. It was restricted in race-based discrimination in 1989 by the supreme court and many cases have tried to fight the reach of Affirmative action as many see it violates the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act was geared toward overcoming barriers to voting rights that African Americans faced. For years, minorities faced discrimination at the polls with taxes and literacy tests, trying to stop them from voting even though they were citizens of the United States. -
Reed v. Reed
Idaho code stated that males must be preferred to females, and after the death of their son, the Reeds (separated) were seeking the estate. The man was chosen, and the woman was challenged in court. In a unanimous decision, the court ruled in favor of the woman, stating that this was unequal treatment of women, and was unconstitutional by the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Bakke was denied admission to the University of California's med school because the university offered 16 spots to minorities as a form of affirmative action. Bakke had better test scores than the 16 admitted and appealed this in court saying that it violated the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. The court stated that it did violate the 14th, and Bakke was to be admitted. Affirmative action wasn't seen as in violation, so it was able to maintain that in order to help minorities. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The equal rights amendment sought to guarantee equal rights for all citizens regardless of sex and would end legal distinctions in divorce, employment, and things similar. The ERA has struggled to be ratified, seeing support from many, but being unable to get passed. Conservative women argue that the ERA would take away the role of the housewife and allow women to be drafted. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Hardwick was seen by a police officer in the act of consensual sex with another man. Hardwick was charged and challenged these charges. The Appeals court reversed saying that the law was unconstitutional, and it was appealed to the supreme court. The court decided that homosexual activities weren't protected under the constitution and that the states could make their own laws about homosexual sodomy. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
the ADA was passed into law in 1990 and serves to aid individuals with disabilities in the workforce, public life, schooling, transportation, and places open to the public. -
Motor Voter Act
This act, also known as the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, enabled the government to require a simple voter registration form before voting when they renew a license or apply for public assistance. It originally only applied to federal elections, but after states adopted the registration system, it spread to state elections. -
Lawrence v. Texas
After a reported weapons disturbance, Texas police entered Mr. Lawrence's home to find him in a consensual sexual act with another man. They were both arrested and the appeals court held that the Texas stature was not unconstitutional. The supreme court found that it violates the due process clause, however. The court also overruled the previous Bowers ruling. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Groups of homosexual couples sued in multiple states over bans on same-sex marriage. The supreme court decided 5-4 that the due process clause of the 14th amendment guarantees the right to marriage as a right to liberty. The dissent argued that homosexual marriage may be a good policy, but the constitution does not address those matters.
