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Dred Scott v Stanford
Scott was a slaved that lived in a free state, when he decided to go back to Missouri, he was considered a slave. So he went to court for his freedom
Decision: Part of Missouri compromise was considered unconstitutional. Since he wasn't a citizen he had no right to sue in federal court and was considered still a slave -
13th amendment
Amendment that ended slavery and/or involuntary servitude -
14th Amendment
The amendment that granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States, including those who were formally enslaved. It also gave all citizens equal protection of laws. It also states no person should be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process -
15th Amendment
This amendment states a person cannot be denied the right to vote because of the color of their skin, their race, or whether they've been slaves previously -
Plessy v Ferguson
Lousiana had a Separate Car Act to prevent blacks and whites from being in the same railway cars. Plessy (who was 7/8 white) sat in the "whites only" car. When he was told to leave he refused and was arrested. Congress created the separate but equal claim. Stating that since the separate cars are equal in their accommodations that it doesn't violate the 14ht amendment -
19th Amendment
This amendment granted women the right to vote. It was passed almost a year after the famous Seneca Falls convention. -
White primaries
Primary elections held in the southern states where only whites were allowed to participate in. -
Brown v Board of Education
A group of cases from several US states that involved African American students who were not allowed to attend certain public schools because of segregated education that was supported by the separate but equal clause. The Court decide that the separate but equal schools weren't equal and the discrimination violated the 14th amendment. -
Poll taxes
A tax people were required to pay before voting. It was used to prevent African Americans from voting because they were unable to pay the tax -
24th Amendment
This amendment abolished poll taxes in all elections. This gave the poor the ability to vote -
Civil rights act of 1964
The act bans discrimination based on a person's religion, race, color, sex, and/or origin. This outlawed many of the south's discriminatory voting methods like the literacy tests and grandfather clause -
Voting rights of 1965
The act was signed by President Lyndon Johnson outlawing discriminatory voting practices adopted post Civil War. Overall it prevented racially discriminating laws/regulations like the literacy test -
Affrimative Action
A law that required organizations to take steps to increase the proportion of African Americans, women and other minorities in its group/membership -
Reed v Reed
Idaho's Probate code stated "males must be preferred to females" when it comes to ownership of property. Sally and Cecil Reed's adopted son had died and they went to court to fight against each other for the ownership of their child's property. The Court said the Idaho Probate Code violated the 14th amendment because of it's unequal treatment of men and women. -
Regents of the University of California v Bakke
Bakke, a white man, applied to University of California's Medical school and was denied twice. The school reserved sixteen places in each entering class of one hundred for "qualified" minorities. Blakke's scores exceeded the minority students who were admitted and was still rejected. The Court argued the " rigid use of racial quotas as employed at the school " violated the 14th amendment. However, it's stated that race was allowed to be one of several criteria in admitting students. -
Equal Rights Amendment
A proposed amendment that failed to pass that was created to emphasize the equal legal rights of all citizens no matter their sex. It failed because it didn't include the needs of working women and women of color. Another reason was the backlash against feminism during that time resulting in the failure to have 3/4 of the states ratify the amendment before Congress's set deadline. -
Browers v Hardwick
Hardwick was seen by Georgia police while participating in consensual homosexual sodomy with another adult in his home. He was charged with violating a Georgia law that criminalized sodomy. The Court found that there was no constitutional protection for acts of sodomy, so it was up to the states to decide whether to make it illegal. -
Americans with Disabilities act
An act created to ban discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life such as jobs, schools, transportation, and all places open to the general public. -
Motor Voter Act
An act passed to make it easier for citizens to register to vote. It required all states to allow registration via mail or when renewing driver license. -
Lawerence v Texas
Huston police entered Lawrence's apartment engaging in a private, consensual sexual act with another male. Both men were arrested for violating a Texas law that prohibited people of the same sex to engage in sexual conduct. The Court claimed the Texas law was unconstitutional because it violated the due process clause. This overturned the Bowers case. -
Obergefell v Hodges
Groups of same-sex couples sued to challenge the constitutionality of states bans on same-sex marriage. The Court said under the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause the right to marry as one of the fundamental liberties it protects. This allows same sex couples the right to marriage.