Civil Rights Timeline

  • Scott v. Sanford

    The court case in which it was ruled slaves were considered property which banned the government from abolishing slavery, as it would abridge someone's right to property.
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    Reconstruction era

    The period in time where a number of amendments were passed in order to combat segregation.
    The reconstruction amendments included:
    13th- Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude unless serving a punishment
    14th- Guaranteed due process for all African Americans regardless of being previously enslaved or not, also instated equal protection of the laws
    15th- Granted African Americans suffrage
    24th- Outlawed poll tax through voting which opened up the voting to new African Americans
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    Jim Crow Era

    The sets of laws put in place by different states in an attempt to further segregation between white and black Americans.
  • Plessy v. Ferguson

    The supreme court case in which it was ruled that it was legal to separate black and white Americans, as long as they were being given equal environments and equal oppurtunities.
    "Separate but Equal"
  • 19th amendment

    Granted women's suffrage
  • George Stinney case

    A case in which it was decided in 10 minutes that a 14-year-old African American boy was convicted of the murder of 2 women wrongfully.
  • Brown v. Board

    A supreme court case in which it was ruled unconstitutional to institute segregation in schools in terms of race.
  • Civil rights act of 1964

    Prohibited discrimination in the terms of race, color, or sex in any federally funded programs or public accommodations. If any state continues to discriminate, the government will pull funding.
  • Voting rights act of 1965

    Instituted in order to enforce the fifteenth amendment. Put a ban on any obstacles put in place to help further discriminatory voting practices. Must have preclearance from the federal government before making any decisions on the basis of voting.
  • Shelby count v. Holder

    A court decision that ruled a section of the voting rights act unconstitutional that stated preclearance was needed from the government before making any voting requirements.