American Government Note

Dred Scott case of 1857: He was a slave; his master lived on a plantation in Missouri. As soon as Scott set foot in Illinois he was free. (Appealed to the Supreme Court) Two rulings: Negros is not citizens of the U.S. and you can’t forbid slavery in any state. It was a catalyst towards the Civil War. He did not end up free.

Amendment 13: passed in 1865 and outlaws/abolishes slavery in the U.S.

Amendment 14: passed in 1868 and makes former American slaves citizens

Amendment 15: passed in 1870, specifically designed for former slaves. It states that no one can be denied civil rights/voting based on race

Poll tax: Poor people were charged the right to vote

Literacy tests: have to be passed in order to vote, different tests based on your race

Grandfather Clause: you can only vote if your grandfather had voted

Voting Rights Act of 1965: made poll tax, literacy test, and grandfather clause disappear and makes sure there isn’t any discrimination pertaining to voting

*Mexican Americans have the lowest voting turnout

Plessey v Ferguson case of 1896: Establishes the separate but equal doctrine. Legally segregate as long as there are equal accommodations. However, there were actually no equal accommodations

Brown v Board of Education case of 1954: African American, Oliver Brown of Arkansas, was denied a white school for his daughter. It was appealed to the Supreme Court. Separate but equal was struck down by the Supreme Court, stating that it was a violation of the 14 Amendment.

Mississippi was the first to let in African American students, federal troops enforcing brown v board of education.

Civil Rights Act of 1964: outlaws discrimination on the basis of race, gender, or religion at the Federal level. States have added more than three. Equal right to employment or public accommodations (railroads, buses, etc.). Supreme court appealed this case.

Regions of the University of CA v Bake case of 1978: 1st reversed discrimination case. A certain percentage of African