-
Dred Scott v. Sandford
A previous enslaved man, Dred Scott, who resided in Illinois for a time as a free man, sued for his freedom after returning to slavery in Missouri. The Court decided that descendants of slaves and African Americans did not have citizenship and therefore could not sue in federal court, and further that slaves were property and any laws depriving individuals of their "property" were unconstitutional -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude in all cases except for those convicted of a crime -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment guarantees equal protection under the law for all citizens and prohibits states from making laws to deprive any group privileges or immunities given to citizens -
15th Amendment
Permitted any male to vote regardless of race, color, or previous servitude. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
A Supreme Court case that brought to question whether forcing black and white individuals to used separate facilities violated the Equal Protection Clause. First came to court because Homer Plessy, a man who was 7/8th white but considered black by the law, sat in a whites-only railroad car and was arrested. The Court decided that the requirement of separate cars did not violate the equal protection clause. -
Nineteenth Amendment
Guaranteed the right to vote for women, ratified as a result of extensive protests and marches held by the suffragist movement. -
White Primaries
Primary elections typically held in the Southern states post-civil war that only permitted white individuals to vote. They were put in place to prevent African Americans from joining the Democratic Party and exercising any meaningful electoral choice -
Poll Taxes
The fee often levied at polling places that would prevent poor individuals, specifically African Americans, from voting. They were outlawed by the 24th Amendment -
Brown v. Board of Education
Landmark SCOTUS case that decided that requiring separate facilities for black and white individuals was not equal protection under the law. Came to the court when a young black girl was forced to travel to the nearest black school, which her father objected to and sued. -
24th Amendment
Prohibits poll taxes, which were often used to stop African American individuals from voting. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Signed into law by Lyndon B Johnson as a result of nationwide protests and sit-ins. Integrated public schools and other public facilities, as well as made it illegal to discriminate in the workplace based on race. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Signed into law by President Lyndon B Johnson, the Voting Rights Act prohibits discriminatory voting practices such as literary tests and grandfather clauses that were often times used to prevent African American individuals from voting -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action is the allocation of resources and funding to individuals belonging to previously underrepresented groups. Has been called into question because of alleged racial biases. -
Reed v. Reed
SCOTUS case argued by Ruth Bader Ginsburg of whether or not gender can be used to determine estate naming. The Court decided that it is unconstitutional to allot estates based on gender alone, and created precedent to prevent sex-based discrimination in laws. -
Equal Rights Amendment
A proposed amendment that would guarantee equal protection of the law regardless of sex. Some argue that its passing would prevent gender biases in divorce and marriage court, as well as provide more legal protection against discrimination, while others say that it is redundant due to the 14th and 19th amendments. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
A white man in California was rejected multiple times from the UC Davis medical school, but his test scores and GPA exceeded those of minority individuals accepted to meet a quota of "qualified minorities". Bakke, the white man, alleged that this was racial discrimination. SCOTUS decided that this case did violate the equal protection clause, but racial consideration in admission, so long as it is not the only consideration, is constitutional -
Bowers v. Hardwick
SCOTUS case calling into question the constitutionality of anti-sodomy laws, made to target homosexual individuals. The court decided that there was no protections of sodomy in the Constitution and states can regulate it as they please. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Provided clear protections against discrimination on the basis of ability. Public and commercial building must comply with the accommodations created by the Act. -
Motor Voter Act
A voting rights act signed into law by President Bill Clinton, the Motor Voter Act required states to simplify their voter registration to allow anyone who renews their driver's license to register to vote. -
Lawrence v. Texas
SCOTUS case that decided that states cannot interferer with the private lives of individuals because of the Due Process Clause, which struck down a Texas law that prohibited homosexual intimacy. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
SCOTUS case legalizing same sex marriage across the nation, came to the court when several same-sex couples sued in their respective states for discrimination in marriage licensing. The Court decided that laws prohibiting same-sex marriage violated the equal protection clause.
