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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was a former slave that lived in Illinois, a free state, from 1833 to 1843. When he went back to Missouri he sued for his freedom on the grounds that he lived in a free state. However, Scott's master said that no full blooded "Negro" could be a free person due to the 2nd article in the Constitution. The courts ruled in favor of the slave owner saying that articles 3 and 4 only allowed only citizens of the U.S. to gain freedom -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment to the United States constitution was the abolotion of slavery. It was voted on in 1864 and then again passed by the senate in 1865. On december 18th 1865, its adoption was proclaimed. It was the first of three reconstruction amendmentd -
14th Amendment
This was the second of the three reconstruction amendments that was passsed. the 14th amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection of the laws. The amendment was proposed as a response to issues involving former slaves that were now free citizens. -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment was passed in Feb. of 1870. It was the third and last of the three reconstruction amendments. This amendment gaurenteed everybody the equal right to vote and prohibited states or federal governments from interfering with this right. -
Poll Taxes
Poll Taxes were cretaed in the late 19th century as a part of the Jim Crowe Laws. A poll tax was a prerequisite to the registration for voting in a number of states. These were created to keep the African American population from being unable to vote. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
State of Louisanna had a law the had seperate train cars for whites and blacks. Mr. Plessy was 7/8 Caucasian and decided to sit in the whites only car. He refused to move to the black only car and was arrested. State won the case due to there being no Constitutional laws abridging state segregation. -
White Primaries
Started in the early 1920's and lasted until the late 1960's. It was a way to keep African Americans from voting only allowing male white Americans to vote. -
19th Amendment
The 19th amendment to the United States constitution gave anybody the right to vote without dsicrimination based on sex. Until this point, only males were allowed to vote. The US congress was also granted power to intervene in any situations if women were discriminated against. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was proposed in 1923 and in 1972 was passed through congress for state legislatures. It was deisgned to provide equal rights for all women. -
Brown v. Board of Education
A public school in Topeka, Kansas denied local African American children the right to enter into their school because they had laws in place that segregated public schools. The children one the case because they were being denied their 14th amendment rights. Although it took time and force schools becasme integrated all over the United States. THis ruling also put to rest state segregation based on race. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative action started when the civil rights movement came in the 60's. This a big push not only for women to gain equal right but any minority group in America. One of the big laws that has been established is no one can be denied work based on their race, creed, color, or origin. -
24th Amendment
The 24th amendment to the US Constitution prohibits poll taxes. It states "The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax." It also gives congress the power to enforce this act. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This was a landmark act that happened in the fight for equal rights. This act outlawed any discrimination made based on race, religion, sex or national orgin. This act allowed for equal treatment for all citizens of the united states. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This was another landmark signed into legislation in 1965. After JFK's assasination, Lyndon B Johnson signed this into a law. It was "designed to enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, the Act allowed for a mass enfranchisement of racial minorities throughout the country, especially in the South" -
Reed v. Reed
After a death of a son, his divorced parents both wanted to be administrators of their son's estate. However, due to Idaho's Probate Code, males held priorites over females in these instances. Sally Reed took the descioion to court and won due the unconstitutional discrimination of men versus women. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Bakke was applying for the University of Claifornia's medical and was denied twice even though he met every criteria to be accepted. The reason is because there were postions for minoirties in every class that couldnt be filled by non minoirties even if they have better records. Bakke took it to court because he was being denied based on race. The courts both agreed and disagreed with him. He won the vote and was amitted but it was also decided that having spots for minoirties is ok. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Michael Hardwick was found having sex with another man by a police officer and both were arrested for goign against Georgia's anti-sodomy laws. They took the case to court saying that they were protected under constitutional laws. The courts ruled that Georgia's laws stood becuase the constitution had zero protection for sodomy. -
Americans With Disabilities Act
This was an act signed by George H.W. Bush in 1990.The ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. This allows veterans and people who are crippled/diabled to recieve the same benefits as those who are healthy. -
Lawrence v. Texas
Houston police were repsonding to a disturbance call when they found two men having sexual relations. They were arrested for violating Texas laws saying that same sex couples couldn't have relations. The court responded with several descisions. First of Texas can't deny same sex intercourse due to Due process clause. Also the courts overruled the Bowers verdict along with Texas's law.
