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Ratification of the 13th Amendment
The passage of the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution marked the end to slavery. Though this was a huge step towards creating equal rights in America, abolishing slavery was only the beginning of the long journey towards ending racial discrimination in America. -
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Jim Crow Laws
Time period where laws enforced racial segregation in the South, involved several court cases. White people continued to make themselves the 'superior' race by oppressing anyone of African decent. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson Court Case
In this case, Jim Crow Laws were strengthened by stating black and white people shall remain "separate but equal." This case did reinforce the separation of black and white people, but black people's status remained no where near that of white people. -
Brown vs. Board of Education Court Case
Supreme Court case which ruled that segregation in public schools for black and white students was unconstitutional. This allowed black students to go to the same public schools as white students. -
Civil Rights Act
Landmark civil rights and labor union law outlawing any form of discrimination on the basis or race, gender, sex etc. This law was created to end any form of discrimination in schools, the workplace and any other public places. -
Wright vs. Council of the City of Emporia
This case allowed public schools to avoid desegregation by creating new all-white "splinter-districts" in wealthy, heavily white areas. -
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No Child Left Behind Act
This act evaluated schools based on test scores among students, and would penalize schools if the scores did not show improvement. This was meant to 'level the playing field' for students from minority groups by holding schools accountable and decrease any lack of opportunity minority students may be given in schools. -
Grutter v. Bollinger
This case upheld the affirmative action admissions at the University of Michigan stating that it was unconstitutional -
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Every Student Succeeds Act
Act created to replace the No Child Left Behind Act by still holding schools accountable for student achievement, but this act allows for more flexibility in an attempt to improve academic achievement and the quality of education.