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In the landmark case Dredd Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court ruled that people of African American descent, whether free or enslaved, were not considered citizens and therefore could not sue in federal court.The Courts also declared that slaveowners were protected by the 5th amendment because slaves were considered property. This case intensified sectional ties to the north and south and helped influence what would become the Civil War.
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The 13th amendment essentially deems slavery as a punishable crime and finally abolishes it in the United States. As this became one of the motivations for the North to win the war, it hurt many southerners whose primary business utilized slavery as a workforce.
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The 14th Amendment guaranteed African-Americans who had been emancipated from the war civil and legal rights as citizens. It also declared all persons born or naturalized in America to be granted citizenship.
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The 15th Amendment extended the right to vote to all men regardless of race and color. Despite playing a major supporting role during the war, women still were not granted the same equality. The 15th Amendment would help serve as motivation for the women's suffrage movement.
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Poll taxes were used in the 1890's as a way to prevent the African-American vote during elections. Since most of that particular demographic weren't able to afford a fee to vote, they did not end up voting causing it to be unfair.
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Similar to poll taxes, white primaries acted as a method to prevent African American citizens from voting. Laws were passed in local and state governments that ended up banning black people from voting.
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Plessy v. Ferguson upheld the constitutionality for segregation as long as standards were equal. This became known as the "separate but equal" policy.
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The 19th Amendment extended the right to vote for women as well. This would give equal rights for all people now in the United States however the female vote wasn't utilized during the first coup[le of elections.
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Brown v. Board of Education reversed the decision made in Plessy v. Ferguson. It ruled that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional, even if the facilities are "equal".
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Affirmative Action policies support members of a minority or disadvantaged group that was previously discriminated against. They gain support in areas like housing, education, and employment. The term was first used in an Executive Order by president John F. Kennedy.
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The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segregation in public places such as bathrooms, restaurants, etc. This legislative action was considered one of the biggest successes out of the Civil Rights Movement.
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The 24th Amendment banned the requirement to pay a poll tax in order to vote for a national election. This would then push the idea of voting being a civic duty and all citizens should now vote.
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The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed the voting restrictions states were placing on ballots in order to prevent the African-American vote. This was mainly aimed towards southern states who had more prejudice towards African Americans at the time.
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Reed v. Reed established that administrators of estates cannot be named in a way that discriminates against sex, as it was a common issue that male administrators must be preferred to females. This leads up to the Equal Rights Amendment.
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The Equal Rights Amendment guarantees equal rights for all citizens regardless of sex. This ensures equal pay, divorce rights, and property rights.
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Regents of the University of California v. Bakke upheld affirmative action and allowed race to be a factor in the college admissions process. However, it did invalidate the use of racial quotas.
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Bowers v. Hardwick upheld a Georgia law criminalizing oral or anal sex in private between consenting adults. This case specifically targeted homosexual sodomy.
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The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discriminating against one for having a disability. Public facilities must have accessibility for the disabled and work employers must apply them with accommodations.
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Lawrence v. Texas overturned the 5-4 decision of Bowers v. Hardwick. It declared that laws prohibiting private homosexual activity between consenting adults are unconstitutional.
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Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage. It was determined as a right due to the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
