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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott v. Sandford determined that enslaved people weren't citizens of the United States. Therefore, they didn't have a right to sue or have protection under the United States Constitution. -
13th Amendement
The 13th amendment prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. It also gives Congress the power to enforce the amendment through legislation. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment granted citizenship to all people born in the United States which included enslaved people, and provided all citizens with equal protection under the laws. It would later be used to incorporate federal laws into state legislation. -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment prohibits states from denying voting rights based on race, color, or previous jobs/ servitude. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson was a case that decided segregation, as long as it was equal, was okay as it wasn't totally imbalanced. -
Nineteenth Amendment
Nineteenth Amendment prohibited states to discriminate against sex when voting. -
Equal Rights Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the constitution to prohibit sex discrimination in any practices, however the bill was never ratified as only 35 out of the needed -- ratified the bill. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education overturned the "seperate but equal" ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson and determined that segregating schools by race was unconstitutional. It signaled the end of racial segregation. -
24th Amendment
The 24th amendment abloished all poll taxes -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin in many areas of life like jobs, public transportation, or voting. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Voting Rights Act of 1965 eliminates discriminatory voting practices and legal barriers that prevented African Americans, or any one for that matter, from voting. -
Title IX
Title IX states that no United States citizen should be excluded or discriminated against based on sex. This includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, and domestic violence cases. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke was a case that determined that college admissions based solely on race was unconstitutional due to it violating the Equal Protection Clause, however affirmative action programs were able to be justifiable. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
Bowers v. Hardwick was case based on same sex relationships. It involved Michael Hardwick, a gay man who was arrested for participating in consensual sex with another adult man. It was determined by the supreme court that Men who participate in sodomy, or any queer relationships, weren't protected by the constitution. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas of public life -
Shelby County v Holder
Shelby County v Holder dealt with the Voting Right Act and stated that unconstitutional to deny anyone the right to vote based on race. it invalidated a section of the case therefore allowing states to operate during elections without government oversight -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Obergefell v. Hodges was a monumental case which stated that the14th amendment requires all states to license marriages between same-sex couples and to recognize all marriages that were lawfully performed out of state. -
Affirmative Action
Affirmative action was a government-backed policy that aimed to increase opportunities for people who are underrepresented in society. This included hiring, college admissions, and grants. The Supreme Court has recently overturned their decision and has decided to heavily limit, some say end, the benefits of affirmative action. -
Voter ID Laws
Voter ID Laws demand voters to present a State issued ID when going to vote. Currently 36 states hold a requirement for it. The laws have impacted many communities of color and lower class citizens, who can not obtain one. Leading many to believe this is purposeful discrimination.