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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was a previous slave in Missouri. However, he moved and resided in Illinois which was a free state. He claimed that he had the right to be emancipated in Missouri because of living in a free state. He lost and the court decided that if the ancestors of an African American were enslaved or free they weren't considered a U.S. citizen. Scott wasn't able to sue or have a trial due to this ruling. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery. The 13th Amendment also states that slavery could be used as a form of punishment. Wealthy plantation owners struggled to rebuild after slavery was abolished. Many turned to using convicts for free labor. Many free slaves were convicted of small crimes and weren't able to pay their way out. This resulted in slavery through convict work. By the 1900 most of these programs were stopped due to efforts to help inhumane prison treatment. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment extended the Bill of Rights to all citizens of the United States including formally enslaved people. With this amendment, former slaves were now counted as full people instead of 3/5th for government legislature population purposes. The 14th Amendment also shows that the Bill of Rights applies to states and not just the federal government. The 14th amendment gives a clear description of what a citizen is and the rights that they possess in the United States. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment gave African American males the right to vote. This amendment still wasn't completely effective. States were able to make their laws and rules regarding voting qualifications. Many states had literacy tests or gave other challenging tests to discriminate and not allow black people the right to vote. Overall the amendment was ineffective to giving rights and freedom back to African Americans because of these laws -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This ruling allowed for segregation however there had to be equal accommodations and rights for both races. Many argued that the 14th Amendment shouldn't allow this however without specifically detailing segregation rules, it couldn't have the proper influence over the ruling. Even with this ruling the Jim Crow south still advocated and fought against equality. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. This only granted white women the right to vote. Until the civil rights movement not all women were able to vote. The amendment ratification failed many times but due to women's patriotic support and help during the war it was able to pass. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This case overruled the separate but equal ruling. Segregation for school attendance based on race was ruled to be unequal. The court used the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to decide this case. This case ultimately implied that segregation was also not allowed in public places. The court was ultimately split but not because of moral reasons. They had to decide if they could overturn the previous court precedent. -
24th Amendment
This amendment prohibited states from proposing voter taxes on citizens. This overall helped to allow those who weren't wealthy to vote. The Supreme Court had previously struck down poll taxes in the case Baker vs Carr however this ruling didn't apply to the federal government. This amendment was ratified during the Civil Rights movement and overall gave more inclusivity to American voting. -
Civil Rights act of 1964
This act stopped discrimination based on color, race, origin, or religion in schools, work, and public places. This act mentioned nothing about sex discrimination. Many woman advocacy groups wrote and fought for sex to be included in this act. In Executive Order 11375 Women could no longer be discriminated against in schools, work, or public places. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative action is the process of improving and creating opportunities for those subjected to and affected by forms of discrimination. Originally it started during the civil rights movement to give fair opportunities. Affirmative action is constantly challenged. For example, colleges aren't able to reserve space for minority students who don't have the qualifications. This is just one example of the equal protection clause overriding affirmative action. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act stopped previous discrimination and laws that were targeted toward African Americans voting. Previous Jim Crow laws and tests were banned for voting qualifications. States now must get approval before making or changing laws regarding voting. This is one of the most significant achievements of the Civil Rights movement. -
Equal Rights Amendment
This guarantees equal rights to all regardless of sex. Lawmakers and advocates began creating this in 1923 however, there wasn't effective action taken till the 1970s. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a key leader in helping this movement. She argued for gender equality in the 14th Amendment under the equal protection clause. -
Title IX
Title IX prohibits discrimination against sex in educational activities and programs like sports. Title IX is a way for females to gain equal opportunities. Many transgender advocates use Title IX to prove the allowance for transgender athletes in sports. Many believe that the interpretation of "sex" in Title IX can also be used to protect gender identity. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Allan Bakke was declined from the University of California despite meeting the qualifications. The university had saved selected spots for minorities. However, Allan had higher qualifications than the minority class that was accepted. The court ruled that Schools and institutions aren't able to make a quota based on race. The court ruled that the university violated the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Georgia charged Hardwick with engaging in homosexual sodomy. Hardwick took this case to the Supreme Court. They had decided that there was no protection stated by the constitution to protect Hardwick's actions. This allowed states to outlaw these practices. This was later overruled however during the time it limited the privacy and expression of homosexuals. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
This act prohibits discrimination in employment, public transportation, and communications for those with a disability. Many businesses opposed this act stating that it would increase costs. However, more than half of the accommodations proposed cost businesses nothing. This act helps qualified individuals have a chance to work and function as a member of society. -
Voter ID Laws
Voter ID laws have been a way to confirm and check one's identity before voting. Many states require a passport or government-issued ID. While some require proof of residence or a bill. This a controversial issue because some believe that identification prevents voter-fraud. Others tend to believe this is a way to discriminate against poor and younger generations who don't posses relevant IDs. -
Shelby County v Holder
Shelby County filed a suit stating that section 5 of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional. Ultimately they reasoned that the the formula to rule these cases was outdated and wasn't supported by the Constitution. The Supreme Court agreed with Shelby County and this allowed for congress to create a new formula. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
This case regards same-sex marriage and the right for other states to recognize and uphold this ruling. The court ruled that the due process clause of the 14th Amendment grants homosexuals the right to marry. States aren't able to deny same-sex marriage and are subjected to treating it as those of opposite-sex marriage. Many believe that this should be ruled by the states due to there being no interpretation or description of marriage in the Constitution.