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Dred Scott vs. Sanford
Dred Scott was a enslaved man, who had lived in free territories for awhile. He sued for his freedom. The federal court found against him, saying he was still a slave. They stated that any African American couldn't be a citizen. -
13th Amendment
Stated that slavery and involuntary servitude, unless as punishment will not exist in the United States. -
14th Amendment
Grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States, including former slaves. This was written and passed as part of the reconstruction program, to guarantee equal rights for black citizens -
15th Amendment
You can't deny people the right to vote based on the color of their skin. This was passed to ensure that states and/or communities, weren't denying people the right to vote because of the color of their skin. -
Poll taxes
These were used as a legal way to keep African Americans from voting. It's a voters fee. -
White Primaries
Primary elections held in Southern states, were only white voters could participate in. This helped pass laws and constitutions with provisions to raise barriers to voter registration. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
Blacks couldn't ride on the whites only rain carts. They ruled equal but separate public accommodations did not violate the 14th amendment. -
19th Amendment
Women have the right to vote. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision. Ruled that separate but equal schools for blacks were unequal and thus unconstitutional. -
Affirmative Action
The requirement that an organization needs to take positive steps to increases the number or proportion of women, African Americans, or their minorities in it's membership. -
24th Amendment
Forbids Congress and states from requiring poll taxes in order to vote in federal elections. The reason why is because those poll taxes prevented many African Americans from voting and low income families. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This prohibited discrimination in public places, schools need to start becoming integrated, and other public places, and you couldn't not hire anyone because of the color of their skin, gender, and religion. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This was passed because of the Jim Crow laws. It outlawed discriminatory voting practices, like the literacy tests. -
Reed vs. Reed
Supreme Court ruled that administrators of estates can not be named in a way that discriminates between sexes. -
Equal Rights Amendment
Designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Seeks to end the legal distinctions between men and women in matters of divorce, property, and employment. -
Regents of the University of Cal vs. Bakke
This allowed race to be one of the several factors in college admission policy. -
Bowers vs. Hardwick
The constitution doesn't protect the right of gay adults to engage in private. The Court also ruled the right to engage in homosexual sodomy was not a fundamental right. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Law designed to prevent discrimination and enable individuals with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of society. -
Lawrence vs. Texas
Supreme Court ruled that state laws banning homosexual sodomy are unconstitutional as a violation of the right of privacy. -
Obergefell vs. Hodges
State bans on same sex marriage are unconstitutional under the 14th amendment.
