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Declaration of Independence
Written by Jefferson. The declaration stated that the colonists had the right to separate from the king and build their own government because King George had tried to take away rights and force taxes on the colonies. It is important because it says that people have equal rights, and the saying “all men are created equal” comes from this document. -
Seneca Fall Convention
The convention was seen by some of its contemporaries, including organizer and featured speaker Lucretia Mott, as but a single step in the continuing effort by women to gain for themselves a greater proportion of social, civil and moral rights, but it was viewed by others as a revolutionary beginning to the struggle by women for complete equality with men. -
13th Amendment
This abolish slavery in the United States and provides that “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States. -
14th Amendment
This amendment was created to ensure that the Civil Right Act passed in 1866 would remain valid ensuring that all persons born in the United States were citizens and were to given full and equal benefits of all laws. State and federal citizenship for all persons regardless of race either born or naturalized in the United States was reaffirmed. -
15th Amendment
It granted African American men the right to vote by declaring that the Right to vote shall not be denied on account of race, color, or previous conditions of servitude. -
Colorado becomes first state to grant women the right to vote
Colorado was the first state to help women achieve equal rights. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
The state of Louisiana had a law that required separate railways cars for blacks and whites. Homer Plessy took a seat in the white only car. He refused to move to the car reserved for blacks and was arrested. Plessy thought that this was unconstitutional under the 14th amendment, so he took it to court. The justice decided that this was constitutional because of the separate but equal doctrine, that separate facilities for blacks and whites satisfied the 14th amendment so long as they are equal. -
NAACP
It was founded to fight for social justice for all Americans. They want everyone to have equal rights -
19th Amendment
The Amendment allows Congress to tariff an income tax without basing it on population or dividing it up among the states. -
Executive order 10450
it revoked President Truman's 1947 Executive Order 9835 and dismantled its Loyalty Review Board program. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Several black sought admission to public schools that required or permitted segregation based on race. The plaintiffs alleged that segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In all but one case, a three judge federal district court cited Plessy v. Ferguson in denying relief under the “separate but equal” doctrine. On appeal to the Supreme Court, the plaintiffs contended that segregated schools were not and could not be made equal and that they -
One, Inc. V. Olesen
ONE sued the U.S. government after the Post Office refused to deliver its magazine on the grounds that it was "obscene." A trial court ruled for the Post Office, and an appeals court affirmed that finding. The Supreme Court overturned the appeals court's decision in a brief ruling, effectively ruling the Post Office had to deliver ONE. -
Illinois becomes the first state to repeal its sodomy laws
This laws outlawed many sexual acts. Most of the outlawed acts were sexual acts between the same sexes -
24th Amendment
This amendment eliminated the ability of government, whether federal or state, to impose a poll tax or any other type of tax as a requirement for allowing citizens to vote. -
civil rights act of 1964
The Civil Rights Law affected the nation profoundly as it for the first time prohibited discrimination in employment and businesses of public accommodation on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. -
Voting Rights Act 1965
The Voting Rights Act (VRA) bans racial discrimination in voting practices by the federal government as well as by state and local governments. -
Stonewall Inn Riots
It is regarded by many as history’s first major protest on behalf of equal rights for homosexuals. -
Title IX
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. It gives women equal opportunities in sports and other areas. However, schools now have to have equal number of teams for each gender. -
APA removes homosexuality as a mental disorder (
Although this was a step forward to accept people for who they really are, people stilled thought that it was a disease and kept doing studies/therapy to people to cure them of it. -
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service. The policy prohibited people who "demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the armed forces of the United States. -
Defense of Marriage Act
allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states. -
Massachusetts legalizes gay marriage
It was the first U.S. state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. -
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is repealed
bringing to an end a discriminatory policy that forced patriotic Americans to serve under a cloud of anxiety and isolation and stood in stark contrast to our shared values of unity and equality. Gay and lesbian service members can serve the country they love without hiding who they love.
