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Dred Scott v. Sandford
The Dred Scott v. Sandford case was important because it was the court case that defined the citizenship of African Americans, enslaved or free. The decision was that they are not considered to be American citizens and therefore cannot sue in a federal court. This case was also important because it acted as an indirect coming of the civil war by stirring up the tensions between abolitionists and those who favored slavery. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was important because it was the amendment that abolished slavery, except as punishment for a crime. This amendment had very large effects on the country as it superseded the Three-Fifths Compromise. This meant that African American people would be counted as a full person towards the population of each state. This shifted the representation in the House of Reptresentatives towards the democratic southern states due to having more representation based on population. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment establishes equal protection of the laws by limiting the state and local governments. The 14th Amendment also includes the Due Process Clause which prohibits state and local government officials from depriving persons of life, liberty, or property without legislative authorization. In other words, this amendment makes the Bill of Rights apply to all of the states as well as the federal government. This is important because it ensures the protection of individual rights. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment was important because it established equal voting rights for African American citizens as it prohibited the government from denying a citizen the right to vote based on their race. This was important because it gave African American men an equal say in the government of the country. However, this amendment was not perfect as it was interpreted very narrowly which allowed for things like poll takes or a grandfather clause that were intended to only let white men vote. -
Poll Taxes
Poll Taxes were important because they were put in place to counter the 15th amendment and make it difficult for African Americans to vote. Poll taxes and other forms of prevention would put in place to silence the political voice of the African American people. Since these taxes were deemed legal by the law, the KKK rose up to "protect" the polls and they became very powerful through the use of violence. -
White Primaries
White primaries were important because they were elections held after 1890 in the southern states and they only permitted white voters to vote. These primaries were used as a form of disfranchisement of minorities. Once the primary candidates were set, the minorities had far less say in the government and therefore were effectively silenced in a political spectrum. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
In the case Plessy v. Ferguson The supreme court was ruling over the Constitutional matter of whether or the rail way cars for passagers where seperate but equal for both whites and colored people. Teh supreme court eventually came to a decision that said the railway cras needed to be equal under the equal protection clause in the Constitution. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was important because it granted women the right to vote. Up until this amendment, voting qualifications were left up for the states to decide. This amendment was essential because the Supreme Court unanimously voted that the 14th amendment did not give women the right to vote. Just as any other minority, women had been disfranchised and silenced of their political voice but this amendment gave women their say in government. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This was a lnadmark case in the supreme court that basically decided that the segrigation of schools was unfair due to unequal facilities. The court ruled in favor of the board of education due to the fact that the distance of school did not fall under the category of unequal in the minds of the court. This court however was a major turning point in the civil rights fight. -
24th Amendment
The 24th Amendment was important because it prohibited any form of poll tax for voters in federal elections. This made it much easier for African Americans and poor White Americans to vote in federal elections. The importance of this is that African Americans aquired more power and say in the government as they were now able to vote and have their voices heard. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was important because it was the piece of legislation that prohibited the descrimination of a person based on race, gender, nationality, or religion. This act was extremely important because it ended segregation in schools, work, and public accommodations. This act paved the way for many more of its kind, laws that establish equality, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act that guarunteed equal access for disabled citizens to any and every building/complex. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was important because it prohibits any form of racial discrimination in voting. This is considered to be the most effective civil rights act ever established due to the fact that it is interpreted very widely so as to ensure that there are no boundaries in the way of people voting. This allowed for all minorities to vote and the country saw a huge increase in voter registration and turn out. Nearly 250,000 African Americans registered to vote in 1965. -
Reed v. Reed
This was court case in which a seperted couple was having a dispute over there sons Inheritance. They both had very valid arguments but in the end the court ruled in the favor of sally reed due to tha fact that they could not keep her part fo her sons inheritence due to her gender. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
This court case was a landmark decision in the supreme court that allows colleges to basically when admitting students base admittance on race. This would be one of the several factors colleges would be allowed to use to admit students. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The equal rights amendment was important to the woman of the united states because it gave them same rights and freedoms as men have. The amendment put woman on an equal level for jobs, and gave them more independency so they would no longer have to depend on a man. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
This court case debated if its constitutional to create a law criminalizing people due to sexual acts. This was mostly aimed towrads homosexuals. In the state of Georgia this was a huge debate that eventually was ruled in the state of Georgia's favor. This decision was eventually overturned in 2003, and has made a huge leap foward for gay rights. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a law that essentially states that no person can be discriminated against due to any form of disability. The only way a disabiled person could be discriminated against is if their disability affected them in the work place in a negative manner. This is important because it establishes a form of equality for all people. -
Lawrence v. Texas
This case was important because it over ruled the case of Bowers v. Hardwick. That case was overturned and it became legal for all homosexual activity in all the state in the US. This act establishes some rights for homosexual people. The case of Bowers v. Hardwick prohibited all homosexual activity within the state and the Lawrence v. Texas case overturns that case allowing for homosexuals to not be discrimination. -
Affirmative Action
This a policy that basically favors members of a disadvantage group within a society. This means that minority groups essentially get the same kind of eaqual chances as the rest society. This is important because it is another act of equality that attempts to make things fair for everyone. These things include special college scholarships and acceptance rates based on nationality.
