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This case ruled against Dred Scott, a slave to Sandford. The court established that Dred Scott could not sue in federal court because free or not, Dred Scott was not a citizen of the United States. The case gave the Missouri Compromise a lot of gray area and even went to the point of establishing the compromise as unconstitutional
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The 13th Amendment stated, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States...". The 13 Amendment abolished slavery which has been withheld to the present.
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The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all people born in the United States. The 14th was ratified as part of the reconstruction era in order to guarantee legal rights to African Americans. This also became the basis for many landmark supreme court cases over the years.
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The 15th Amendment established citizen right to vote which can not be taken away from them based on race. The 15th Amendment extended voting rights to African Americans.
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Case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities as long as segregated facilities were equal in quality. The case passed over racial issues and gave a compromise that really did not help solve racial issues in the long run but prolonged racial intentions.
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Nineteenth Amendment was an expansion on voting rights. It stated that the ability to vote should not be taken away on the basis of sex federally and state wide. The 19th allowed helped expand the rights of women.
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White Primaries were primaries in the southern states where only white voters could participate. This further moved along segregation in the southern states but also influenced change for the better with the approval of certain civil rights acts and amendments.
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Court case involving racial segregation in school. The court ruled that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional even if the segregated schools were to be equal in equality. This court case moved along the movement for racial equality drastically by taking a right step with disallowing segregation within public schools.
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The 24th Amendment was ratified in a time of voter suppression in regards to African Americans. The 24th made it so poll taxes could not be a requirement in voting for elections. This allowed African Americans to have a better opportunity to be able to vote without being unfairly taxed or targeted.
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The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination. The act also supported African American voting rights along with reducing segregation in schools.
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The Voting Rights Act of 1965 turned down many of the discriminatory voting practices. This included the prerequisite of literacy tests in order to vote. This opened up voting and allowed more African Americans to be able to properly vote.
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Poll Taxes were voting fees used in southern states. Poll Taxes were used to discourage and make it difficult for African Americans to vote. This later resulted in the Voting rights act of 1965 and so on.
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Reed v. Reed was a case involving the unequal treatment between man and woman. This case withheld the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and made it clear that there shall be no preference to members of either sex over members of the other (in regards to estate and other things like jobs).
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Amendment that aimed to further improve gender equality in the US. It looked to end legal distinctions between men and women. This especially applied to subjects like divorce, property, employment, etc...
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This was a court case that said that the use of racial "quotas" in its admissions process was unconstitutional as a highly qualified black student was not allowed entry to the University but others less qualified were upon a school quota. The court also ruled that using "affirmative" action to accept minority applicants was constitutional in some circumstances, giving minorities an upper edge in college entry.
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The court ruled that sodomy was not protected under the constitution in the occurrence of a state banning such action. This ruling constrained homosexual rights and prolonged homosexual equality.
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This act outlawed discrimination to those with disabilities in regards to schooling, services, jobs and transportation services. This act further established equality in the United States, especially for the disabled.
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Affirmative action is the practice of favoring individuals belonging to groups known to have been discriminated against previously. Affirmative action has benefited minorities and has helped minorities deal with a flawed but improving nation in terms of equality.
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Lawrence v. Texas was a case handling homosexuality between two men. The court ruled in opposition to Bowers v. Hardwick, stating it was unconstitutional to make it a crime of same sex sexual conduct as it violates the Due Process Clause. This court case moved forward homosexual equality and rights.
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Case that argued that same sex marriage is protected in the 14th Amendments and that denying that right violates the Due Process Clause. This further moved along homosexual rights and freedoms.
