Early Civil Rights Amendments and Court Cases
Reconstruction Era 13 th Amendment: Ended slavery 14 th Amendment: Extended citizenship to African-Americans, as well as due process and equal protection to all citizens. 15th Amendment: Extended the right to vote to African-Americans
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Supreme Court case that legalized segregation in facilities that were “separate but equal.” Segregation legalized (Jim Crow Laws) De Jure Segregation—segregation by law (South) De Facto Segregation—segregation by customs and habits
Brown v. Board (1954) Supreme Court case that overturned “separate but equal” doctrine and desegregated public schools.