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Dred Scott v Sandford
A case in which Dred Scott, a slave residing in a free state, filed the Missouri court after returning there, saying that he was a free man for living in free territory. The court held that slave decedents were not American citizens and could therefore not sue in federal court. -
13th Amendment
Under the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, slavery was made illegal unless by punishment for a crime. -
14th Amendment
After slavery was abolished, there needed to be an amendment that gave previously enslaved individuals freedoms as citizens of the United States. -
15th Amendment
Men of all races who were citizens of the United States, were given the right to vote. This amendment did not give women the right to vote however. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
A court case in which it was decided that racial segregation did not go against the constitution. A principle that became known as "separate but equal" -
19th Amendment
The right to vote was given to all United States citizens regardless of gender -
White Primaries
Primary elections in southern states in which only white men could vote/participate -
Brown v. Board of Education
A court case in which the court ruled that racial segregation in schools violated the 14th amendment. Separate schools for whites and African Americans were declared unequal. -
24th Amendment
The 24th amendment essentially abolished poll taxes (a tax to vote in an election) to make voting more accessible. -
Poll Taxes
Abolished in the 24th Amendment, poll taxes were taxes that needed to be paid in order to vote in an election. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
A public law passed under President Lyndon Johnson that prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Another law passed under President Johnson that made voting more accessible, such as removing required literacy tests and other laws that made voting more difficult for some individuals. -
Reed v. Reed
According to Idaho law, when two runners for administer of opposite gender were equally qualified, males were to be preferred. When taken to the Court, it was decided that such rules violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment. This was the first time the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was used for women. -
Equal Rights Amendment
Amendment to the US Constitution that provides legal equality to all citizens regardless of gender. -
Regent of the University of California v. Bakke
A case in which Bakke, a white man, felt "reversely discriminated" when not accepted to a university that had race as a criteria for admission. It was decided to be unlawful, but that affirmative action to accept minorities was constitutional in some cases. -
Affirmative Action
Favoring individuals that had been previously discriminated against based on race, gender, religion, etcetra. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Hardwick was found by police engaging in consensual homosexual sodomy in his own home. When charged, the case was taken to Court, where it was decided that the Constitution did not protect against sodomy. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
An act which prohibits discrimination toward US citizens such as physical and mental disabilities -
Motor Voter Act
Allowed citizens to register to vote when receiving a driver's license. States must also issue mail-in registration forms. -
Lawrence v. Texas
Another case in which two men were arrested for engaging in intercourse. It was found that such an arrest invalidated the sodomy law in the US, making same-sex sexual acts legal in all states. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Many same sex couples sued their respective states for not recognizing same sex marriage. When taken to the Court, it was decided that same sex marriage was to be legalized/recognized in all 50 states.
