-
Period: to
Timespan of Civil Rights
-
Dred Scott v Sandford
Dred Scott was a slave who passed into freeman country, then filed for his freedom from the Missouri government. The Missouri government claimed that Scott was property and not a person, so was unable to gain his freedom by passing through a free state. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment officially abolished slavery in the United States, and any involuntary servitude, unless it was a punishment for a crime. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment also known as one of reconstruction amendment allowed anyone born in the States to become a citizen. The amendment also promised equal protection of the law to all US citizens. This amendment also allowed black men over the age of 21 the ability to vote in federal elections. -
15th Amendment
The ability to vote will not be stopped based on your race, color, or previous occupation under servitude. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The supreme court established the precedent of separate but equal for southern states. Eventually this ideal would cause segregation between races. The supreme court ruled that the law was constitutional as long as the railroads in question were in state lines. -
19th Amendement
This amendment recognized women's ability to vote in elections. After WW1 women had experienced more freedom with getting more jobs and now wanted representation in the government. The movement for women rights began back in 1848 at Seneca Falls. -
White Primaries
Elections in the Southern United States in which inly white voters were allowed to participate. This practice was eventually stopped by the supreme court case Smith v. Allwright. -
Brown v Board of Education
The court case ruled unanimously in favor of Brown saying that separate but equal is inheritably not equal. The laws they stop black and white children from going to the same school is in violation of the constitution. This court case consolidated schools and ended the practice of sperate v equal. -
Affirmative Action
Was a policy signed by Kennedy to make sure that government employees were treated fairly regardless of race, sex, or national origin. This was step allowed equal opportunities to minorities and women in the government after affirmative action was implemented by Kennedy and added upon by later presidents. -
Poll Taxes
A fixed tax on all individuals regardless of income level payed to the federal government. It was also linked to the ability to vote until the 24th amendment. They are a practice of old America and should be left in the past. -
24th Amendment
Anyone who has not payed taxes is still eligible to vote in federal elections. This amendment gives the general citizenship a greater voice in the government which can not be easily taken away. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, and national origin. This act also prohibited discrimination against race, sex, religion, color, and national origin in the basis of who to fore or hire in a job. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Prohibits Racial Discriminations in voting. The Act provides nationwide security for voting rights throughout all citizens. This event was one of the highlights of the civil rights movement involving MLK and all of his followers. It effectively dismembered all Jim Crow laws. -
Reed v. Reed
This supreme court case made it that women and men in cases of property inheritance that men and women would have equal chances. Laws making it that men would inherently be favored over women would no linger be in effect. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The equal right amendment made discrimination against sex in legal rights illegal. Women and men would have the same rights regarding divorce, and employment. This amendment put women in the same standing as men in legal terms. -
Regents of the University of California v Bakke
A white man applied for the University of California at Davis and had great qualifications with his test scores and college GPA but was rejected from the University both years he applied. The 16 spots out of the 100 available spots for the University was reserved for minority students who all had worse qualifications to get into the college. The court ruled the 16 spots reserved for the minorities was in violation of the constitution. This gave protection to people of all races. -
Bowers v Hardwick
The court ruled that sexual acts between the same gender can be deemed illegal by state law. Laws preventing sodomy is not unconstitutional and can be enforced by the law enforcement. This court case also happened at the height of the AIDS scare which heavily effected the outcome of the case. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Is a civil rights law that prohibits discriminations against citizens with disabilities in all areas of public life including jobs, schools etc. This is one of the most recent laws concerning civil rights and gets us closer and closer to equal rights between all citizens. -
Lawrence v Texas
Two men were caught engaging in sexual relations by a Texas police officer and were arrested. The Supreme Court ruled that the law preventing two people of the same gender to engage in sexual relations is unconstitutional by the 14th amendment. This overturned one of their earlier decisions about the same situation in Bowers v Hardwick. This was a huge step forward for same sex couples. -
Obergefell v Hodges
The right to same sex marriage was illegal in multiple states, was challenged by Obergefell stating it was unconstitutional by the 14th amendment. Obergefell won and same sex marriage was legal across the Untied States. This was one more step toward equality to all. States had to recognize same sex marriages and treat them as they would any other couple.
