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Dred Scott v. Sandford
In the case, the question was whether Scott was free or a slave. He claimed he was a free man since he resided in a free state. But, the Missouri court did not agree. He tried suing in federal court, but the majority ruled that he had no right to sue since he wasn't considered a free man. -
The 13th Amendment
The 13th amendment stated abolished slavery and forbid indentured servitude. The only exception was when it was used for punishment for a crime. Congress passed the amendment in January of 1965. However, it wasn't ratified until December of that year. -
The 14th Amendment
The 14th amendment was ratified in 1868. It stated that all people born or naturalized in the United States are considered U.S. citizens. This included those who were former slaves. The amendment also guaranteed all citizens 'equal protection of laws'. -
The 15th Amendment
The 15th amendment was ratified in February of 1870. The amendment didn't allow states to deny citizens their right to vote. This meant states couldn't deny the right to vote to anyone despite their race or skin color. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson was the first major case that introduced the meaning of the 14th amendment’s equal-protection clause. This prohibits the states from denying “equal protection of the laws” to anyone. The Separate Car Act was put into place by the state of Louisiana. Plessy sat in a "whites only" car of a train. In court, it was argued that this act violated the 13th and 14th amendments. Still, the Act was ruled as constitutional. -
The 19th Amendment
Congress passed the 19th amendment in 1919 and it was ratified in 1920. It prohibited the exclusion of women in the right to vote. This was a super big movement in women equality history. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This case dealt with the issue of segregation in public schools. The Court ruled that U.S. having racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional, even if the segregated schools are equal in quality. This took a while to debate, from 1952 to 1954. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act was a landmark act in United States history. It prohibited the discrimination of people based off their gender, race, religion, and nationality. This was a super big deal since it was also enforced in the work place, as well as during the hiring, promotion, and firing processes. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
On March 30, 1870 the 15th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed. It stated that a citizen's right to vote could not be taken away based on their race. The Voting Rights Act came from the 15th Amendment’s 1870 ratification. In August 1965, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. It required that areas of the country that had a history of discrimination receive 'pre-clearance' of any voting changes from the government. -
Reed v. Reed
This court case debated the Equal Protection Clause. A separated mother and father of a minor who had died before making a will, both filed a petition to administer estate. However, there was discrimination occurring based on sex. This led to the Supreme Court ruled for the first time that the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment prohibited differential treatment based on sex. -
Title IX
Title IX states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance[.]” As part of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title IX was passed as a federal civil rights law in the U.S. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Bakke, a 35 year old man, was rejected from the University of California medical school twice. He took the case to court claiming his rejection was based off of his race. It was debated if UC violated the Equal Protection Clause. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
This act, passed in 1990, prohibited the discrimination of those with disabilities. This includes blindness, deafness, and much more. This act was enforced in the work place, in the hiring process, and firing process. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
This was considered a landmark civil rights case. The case allowed gay marriage to become legal in the U.S. It also guaranteed that same-sex couples have this right to marriage by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.