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Supreme Court ruled that Americans of African descent, whether free or slave, were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court. -
Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. -
Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and guaranteed all citizens “equal protection of the laws. -
Granted African American men the right to vote. -
The court ruled that racial segregation laws did not violate the U.S. Constitution as long as the facilities for each race were equal in quality, known as "separate but equal". -
Granted women the right to vote. -
Primary elections were held in the Southern United States in which only white voters were permitted to participate. -
The court ruled that U.S. state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional, even if the segregated schools are otherwise equal in quality. -
A poll tax is a tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable individual (typically every adult), without reference to income or resources. -
The Court outlawed the poll tax as a voting requirement in federal elections.
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Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
A set of procedures designed to eliminate unlawful discrimination among applicants, remedy the results of such prior discrimination, and prevent such discrimination in the future. -
Outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a requirement to vote. -
The Court applied the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to strike down a law that discriminated against women. -
Guaranteed equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. -
Affirmative action programs that take race into account can continue to play a role in the college admissions process, since creating a diverse classroom environment is a compelling state interest under the Fourteenth Amendment. State universities go too far, however, when they set a certain quota for the number of minority students who enroll. -
The Court ruled the Fourteenth Amendment does not prevent a state from criminalizing private sexual conduct involving same-sex couples. -
Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in everyday activities, including medical services. -
Made it easier for all Americans to register to vote and to maintain their registration. -
Invalidated sodomy law across the United States, making same-sex sexual activity legal in every State. -
The fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause.