Minorities and Equal Rights By: Brennan Holzer and Patrick Markey

14 th Amendment 1868 Plessy v, Ferguson 1896 Brown v. Board of Education 1954 Loving v. Virgina 1967 Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education 1971

14 th Amendment Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

14 th Amendment Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State

14 th Amendment Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

14 th Amendment Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

14 th Amendment Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article

Plessy v. Ferguson The decision of Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 upheld the constitutionality of the “separate but equal” doctrine. This action caused racial differences to flourish. The decision of Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 upheld the constitutionality of the “separate but equal” doctrine. This action caused racial differences to flourish.

Shelley v. Kraemer In 1945, a black family named Shelley bought a home in St. Louis, Missouri. At the time of purchase, they were unaware that a restrictive covenant had been in place on the property since The restrictive covenant barred "people of the Negro or Mongolian Race" from owning the property. In 1945, a black family named Shelley bought a home in St. Louis, Missouri. At the time of purchase, they were unaware that a restrictive covenant had been in place on the property since The restrictive covenant barred "people of the Negro or Mongolian Race" from owning the property.

Shelley v. Kraemer cont. This case brought into question whether racially based realty covenants are legal under the 14 th Amendment, and whether such covenants can be enforced by a court of law. The judges decided “racially-based restrictive covenants are, on their face, not invalid under the Fourteenth Amendment. Private parties may voluntarily abide by the terms of a restrictive covenant, but they may not seek judicial enforcement of such a covenant, because enforcement by the courts would constitute state action. Since such state action would necessarily be discriminatory, the enforcement of a racially-based restrictive covenant in a state court would violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.” This case brought into question whether racially based realty covenants are legal under the 14 th Amendment, and whether such covenants can be enforced by a court of law. The judges decided “racially-based restrictive covenants are, on their face, not invalid under the Fourteenth Amendment. Private parties may voluntarily abide by the terms of a restrictive covenant, but they may not seek judicial enforcement of such a covenant, because enforcement by the courts would constitute state action. Since such state action would necessarily be discriminatory, the enforcement of a racially-based restrictive covenant in a state court would violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”

Brown v. Board of Education Decision passed in 1954 that overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision. The new ruling stated that such laws were against the 14 th Amendment, therefore unconstitutional. This paved the way for desegregation. Decision passed in 1954 that overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision. The new ruling stated that such laws were against the 14 th Amendment, therefore unconstitutional. This paved the way for desegregation.

Loving v. Virginia Landmark case in 1967 that banned all anti-miscegenation statutes, laws that banned interracial marriages, or even sex between two races. One of the most popular of these laws was created in Pace v. Alabama (1883). Landmark case in 1967 that banned all anti-miscegenation statutes, laws that banned interracial marriages, or even sex between two races. One of the most popular of these laws was created in Pace v. Alabama (1883).

Loving v. Virginia cont. Pace, an African American man, and the white woman he was living with were arrested. Pace filed a suit against Alabama, which he lost. Loving v. Virginia overturned this case on the basis of the 14 th Amendment. Pace, an African American man, and the white woman he was living with were arrested. Pace filed a suit against Alabama, which he lost. Loving v. Virginia overturned this case on the basis of the 14 th Amendment.

Swann v. Charlotte- Mecklenburg Board of Education Ruling passed in 1971 that changed the rules for busing children to school. The Court held that busing was an appropriate remedy for the problem of racial imbalance among schools, even where the imbalance resulted from the selection of students based on geographic proximity to the school rather than from deliberate assignment based on race. It was the best way to desegregate. Ruling passed in 1971 that changed the rules for busing children to school. The Court held that busing was an appropriate remedy for the problem of racial imbalance among schools, even where the imbalance resulted from the selection of students based on geographic proximity to the school rather than from deliberate assignment based on race. It was the best way to desegregate.

Grutter v. Bollinger 2003 Supreme Court case that declared Michigan Law School’s admission practices constitutional. The plaintiff stated that the schools practices weighed heavily on race, and gave favor to minority groups, and was no different from a quota system. She felt as though the “affirmative action” procedure was against the 14 th amendment Supreme Court case that declared Michigan Law School’s admission practices constitutional. The plaintiff stated that the schools practices weighed heavily on race, and gave favor to minority groups, and was no different from a quota system. She felt as though the “affirmative action” procedure was against the 14 th amendment.

Grutter v. Bollinger cont. However, the courts held that using race as a factor to admission was constitutional while the quota system was not. This majority opinion was headed by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. While the system was not required to change within the school, it was changed anyways, favoring merit just a little bit more. However, the courts held that using race as a factor to admission was constitutional while the quota system was not. This majority opinion was headed by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. While the system was not required to change within the school, it was changed anyways, favoring merit just a little bit more.

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