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Civil rights Timetoast
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Dred Scott V. Stanford
Ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not extend American citizenship to black Americans and they therefore didn't have access to the rights and liberties given by the Constitution. -
13th Amendment
Outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude except as a punishment of law, and gave Congress the right to enforce it with legislation. -
14th Amendment
All people born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens, and no state can make or enforce any law that abridges the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States. Furthermore, no state can deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, or deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws -
15th Amendment
The freedom to vote cannot be restricted based on race or prior servitude. -
Plessy V. Ferguson
Separate but equal is constitutional, allowing widespread legal segregation.Furthered the idea of segregation and racism within the U.S. until its later overturning. -
19th Amendment
Declares it unconstitutional to discriminate against voting based on the sex of the voter, giving women the universal right to vote, finally extending voting to every citizen. -
Brown V. Board of Education
Ruled racial segregation within public schools was unconstitutional, officially mandating the end of segregation in schools. However, much backlash would be felt against the ruling and it would take time to fully integrate. -
Affirmative Action
Government policies to improve opportunities for minorities and women, and a way to try and remedy the long-standing effects of discrimination. -
24th Amendment
Prohibited poll toles and other entrance tests to voting, to reduce discrimination when voting, which was highly prevalent in some places. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
U.S. legislation intended to end discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin. Which is seen as possibly the largest act in civil rights, officially outlawing any form of discrimination. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Outlawed legal barriers aimed to discriminate and take away Black citizens' right to vote, through many different processes. Aiming to end things like grandfather clauses, voting tests, and other unfair tests. -
Equal Rights Amendment
Proposed amendment that died in the ratification of 38 states, meant to explicitly prohibit sex-based discrimination. This meant to guarantee equal rights to all Americans regardless of their sex. -
Title IX
Prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. Further reducing the presence of discrimination within schools. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Decision on preferential treatment towards minorities and how it could reduce educational opportunities. Upheld affirmative action and it's benefits, allowing race to be one considered factor in admission. Though limits were made, as setting aside a certain amount of seats for minority students was deemed impermissible. -
Bowers V. Hardwick
Upheld the Georgia sodomy law, stating that sodomy was illegal, making homosexual sex illegal by proxy. Acting as a setback for homosexual relationships. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Provides protection from discrimination to those with disabilities in the same way the Civil Rights Act did, with it barring stores from not allowing entry or restaurants from serving, among much else. -
Shelby County V Holder
Removed requirements for voter districts to need to receive clearance for specific voting practices and tests, to ensure they weren't discriminatory. Returning more power back to the local districts and allowing the creation of voter laws that might discriminate. -
Obergefell V. Hodges
The ruling declared that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. Followed multiple circuits disagreeing opinions on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage, and overturned prior precedents, like the one established in Bowers V. Hardwick that allowed same-sex relations. -
Voter ID Laws
While it varies across states, numerous states still require some form of identification to vote, under the pretense that it protects voter ID fraud. Though it can reduce fraud somewhat, these laws also can cause some minorities to be unable to vote, swinging the outcome of the votes.