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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was a slave who moved back to Missouri, a slave state, and tried to argue that he was free after living in Illinois. The Supreme Court said in a 7-2 decision that Dred Scott was still a slave under the 5th Amendment because he was property. They also said that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional and that Congress did not have the power to make free states. -
13th Amendment
It abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, when they have been duly convicted. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment defines a citizen of the United States who was born within its boards is a citizen of the country and is entitled to the same rights and protections as in the Constitution. -
15th Amendment
The Constitution prohibits federal and state governments from denying anyone the right to vote based on race, color, or their previous condition of servitude. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy, who was 1/8 black, got on a white only car and was told to get off; he refused and was arrested. He argued that the Separate Car Act violated the 13th and 14th Amendments. In a 7-1 decision the Separate Car Act was not violating these amendments and started the precedent of "separate but equal". -
19th Amendment
Voting rights will not be held back on the basis of sex. This amendment gave women the right to vote. -
Equal Rights Amendment
First proposed in 1923, the ERA would grant equal rights under the law regardless of sex. However, it was not ratified by states and there are initiatives to get it ratified. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court determined that separating children on the basis of race was unconstitutional. It over ruled the precedent of "separate but equal" in Plessy v. Ferguson. -
24th Amendment
This amendment abolished taxing, with a poll tax or any other tax, on voters during federal elections. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The act prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, religious, or national origin. This also includes hiring, promoting, and firing. It also prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and federally funded programs. It also strengthen voting rights and desegregating schools. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act outlawed racial discriminatory voting practices used in many southern states such as literary tests. -
Title IX
Title 9 protects people from discrimination based on gender in education programs or activities that receive federal assistance. This includes sexual orientation and gender identity. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Bakke, a white male, claimed his rejection from the university's medical school, was based on this race. in an 8-1 decision the court said no and yes. In order to give minorities an advantage the majority race was discriminated against. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Hardwick was seen in his bedroom having a consensual sodomy with another man when it was seen by a police officer through his bedroom window. Sodomy was illegal in Georgia. The Supreme Court decided that there was no protection for laws that were against consensual sodomy. -
American with Disabilities Act
Enacted in 1990 it prohibits discrimination against someone who has a disability. -
Voter ID Laws
The Supreme Court decided that in Indiana the requirement to have a government issued ID in order to vote was not violating the Constitution. -
Shelby Country v. Holder
The Supreme Court said that a section of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional. It provided the formula for determining which jurisdictions were covered under Section 5. This issue was brought up al Alabama after they state said it prevented them from doing other aspects of their job. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
This decision prohibits sates from not recognizing a same sex marriage license and from denying a same sex couple the right to a marriage license. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action is giving minorities a leg up in higher education. It was prohibited by the Supreme Court, saying that college admissions should no longer use race when considering admittance into college/university.