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Dred Scott v. Sanford
This case decided that enslaved people and decendants from enslaved people were not to be considered citizens of the United states and weren't entitled to the protections US citizens had even if they were freed and living in free territory. This is significant because it was a major setback for the African American community as their existence was legally ignored by the country. -
13th Amendment
This amendment was life changing for the enslaved colored Americans living in the united states as this amendment abolished slavery, involuntary servitude and anything in the realm of it. This freed millions of enslaved people from hundreds of years of gruesome persecution and initiated the battle for freedom and equality within the African American community. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment was life changing for citizens as a whole as it enacted no permissible infringement of life, liberty or property. Citizens were also granted due process meaning they cannot be charged with anything without having a fair and elaborate trial in court. This gave more power and equal protection to citizens as they had a fair chance at fighting the government. -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment made it illegal to discriminate voting rights on bases of race, color or previous condition. This established colored people being able to vote but this didnt stop white people from making the process hard to obtain registration to do so. But it was a start for the colored community. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This case was significant because it was one of the more disappointing decisions decided by the Supreme Court. They essentially established that "separate but equal" was legal. This was legalized segregation as long as it was 'equal' when in fact the separation was never equal. Eventually that was brought to the courts attention and this decision was overturned by future cases like Brown v. Board of Education overturning segregation within schools. -
19th Amendment
This amendment granted women the right to vote. This was a grave step forward for equality for women. Through tons of protests and and persistence women were able to overcome this setback and find themselves back in a race for equality. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Prior to this event the "separate but equal" doctrine existed stemming from the Plessy case but this case plays a big role in the overturning of that established doctrine by delegalizing segregation on the basis of race, specifically within schools. This was essential to the civil rights movement and the African American community as they were finally receiving equal access to education despite still facing racism and discrimination. This was so opposed the national guard had to enforce it. -
Affirmative Action
This term was first coined by John F. Kennedy when describing the immediate actions and efforts the government/country will take to a situation where discrimination may be happening. Simply measures taken to prevent discrimination in a work place based on race religion and later on added, sex. This was another propeller for the civil rights movement for minorities. -
24th Amendment
The 24th amendment took away federal and a states power to impose a tax on voters in a federal election. This is significant because this is another legal act reestablishing power back to the people rather than another form of devolution. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act prohibited the discrimination against race, religion, color, sex and national origin applicable to all American citizens. This applied to all situations, voting, opportunities etc. This was revolutionary to the civil rights movement for colored people, women, members of the lgbtqia+ community and any other persecuted group. They finally obtained legal equality. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This law prohibited discriminatory voting practices many southern states were mandating. This included literacy tests. This is one of the most important voting rights laws as it eliminated the disadvantage colored people were set at. Without the discrimination black people finally had a fair shot at making their voice matter -
Equal Rights Amendment
The equal rights amendment was the conclusion minority citizens, specifically women in the United States was waiting for. This amendment finally legally guaranteed the equality of rights for all people living within the country regardless of sex specifically. This was a fulfilling act for women fighting for equality and respect from the country. Unfortunately it was stopped when the passing of Roe v. Wade was shunned. People believe women were then being given too much right. -
Title IX
Title IX, similar to the Board v. Education case eliminates discrimination in school or any government funded program on the basis of sex. This was another step up on women's climb to equality. This allowed women to have the same access to quality coaching and weights etc. as male athletes. It gave a sense of validity to what women were achieving in the athletic field. Sexual harassment is also another big thing this article prohibits. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
This case is significant because it was a challenge of the civil rights act but not coming from a person of color in this circumstance it was a white man being rejected from a college because of his race and this was a realization that the act applies both ways. Most believed this violated the 14th amendment and the equal protection clause. But not all justices agreed. Scholarships can be based on race since those are individually funded but government funded institutions cannot. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
This was another quite disappointing decision that came out of the Supreme Court. They declared that sodomy is not protected by the constitution under the 14th amendment and essentially made gay intercourse illegal and said that the states had the right to regulate it how they pleased. The justices believed granting this right would send them all downhill. A strange superstition indeed. Fortunately this was later overturned in 2003 by Lawrence v. Texas. -
Americans with Disability Act
This act prevented the discrimination against Americans with disability in pretty much any circumstance like in employment and public accommodations for example. It requires employers to accommodate a disabled employee rather than reject them because of their situation. This largely decreased unemployment rates within that community and provided more equal opportunities for all Americans revolutionizing equality within the workplace, in transportation etc. -
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Voter id laws
Voter id laws are very torn in opinion. One side believes that it is a necessity to vote in order to prevent voter fraud and more accurate counts as there's an existing problem of people using dead people to cast a vote etc. The other side believes this is unconstitutional as it makes it harder for a citizen to vote as ids are not always easy to come by and this restricts a large enough demographic of Americans from being able to vote. -
Shelby County v. Holder
This case ruled that section 4 of the voting right act was unconstitutional because it was pretty much no longer necessary with what was going on at the time since voting discrimination was no longer a thing. This was just a turning point for voting rights. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
This case was absolutely revolutionary for the lgbtqia+ community as it lifted the ban on same sex marriage and legalized it across the board because of the due process clause and the 14th amendment guaranteeing the right to marry as a fundamental liberty. They argued they cant be denied under equal protection so how could they be denied marriage, that's a violation to their equal protection. This just might singlehandedly be the biggest day for the lgbtqia+ community.