Civil RightsCivil Rights

African AmericansAfrican AmericansThe 14The 14thth and 15 and 15thth amendments had not done amendments had not done what they were to do. African Americans what they were to do. African Americans were not equal. The South found unique ways were not equal. The South found unique ways to prevent African Americans from becoming to prevent African Americans from becoming citizens.citizens.Poll Tax – A tax to vote. Most were too poor to Poll Tax – A tax to vote. Most were too poor to pay. Repealed by the 24pay. Repealed by the 24thth Amendment (1964) Amendment (1964)Literacy Test – Pass a reading test to vote.Literacy Test – Pass a reading test to vote.Grandfather Clause – If your grandpa or dad Grandfather Clause – If your grandpa or dad voted, then you could vote.voted, then you could vote.

Plessy V FergusonPlessy V Ferguson – Homer Plessy chose to sit – Homer Plessy chose to sit in a whites only RR car. He was arrested and in a whites only RR car. He was arrested and charged with breaking the law. He went to charged with breaking the law. He went to court basing his case on the 14court basing his case on the 14thth Amendment. Amendment. The case went all the way to the Supreme The case went all the way to the Supreme Court. The court ruled that the cars could be Court. The court ruled that the cars could be separate as long as they were equal. The separate as long as they were equal. The idea of separate but equal was used for the idea of separate but equal was used for the next 60 years.next 60 years.Jim Crow Laws Jim Crow Laws – Laws designed to keep blacks – Laws designed to keep blacks and whites separate. After the RR decision and whites separate. After the RR decision they were applied to schools, hotels, movie they were applied to schools, hotels, movie theaters, etc.theaters, etc.

Women’s RightsWomen’s RightsThe big push for women was the right to The big push for women was the right to vote. This is called Suffrage.vote. This is called Suffrage.Seneca Falls Convention – 1848 Women Seneca Falls Convention – 1848 Women met to discuss their rights as U.S. citizens. met to discuss their rights as U.S. citizens. They said they should have the right to They said they should have the right to vote. It would take 72 years to get this vote. It would take 72 years to get this right.right.National Women’s Suffrage Movement – National Women’s Suffrage Movement – Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The goal was a Constitutional Stanton. The goal was a Constitutional Amendment so women could vote. Amendment so women could vote.

In 1872 Susan B. Anthony voted in an In 1872 Susan B. Anthony voted in an election in N.Y. She was arrested for election in N.Y. She was arrested for “knowingly” voting for a U.S. “knowingly” voting for a U.S. Representative. Representative. The judge fined her $100. She refused to The judge fined her $100. She refused to pay, hoping the judge would put her in jail pay, hoping the judge would put her in jail so she could appeal the decision. The so she could appeal the decision. The judge just let her go.judge just let her go.Eventually the 19Eventually the 19thth amendment was passed amendment was passed in 1920. Only one person from Seneca in 1920. Only one person from Seneca Falls was still alive. She was 92 years old.Falls was still alive. She was 92 years old.