Supreme Court Actions (1865-1992)

Supreme Court Actions (Native Americans, African Americans, Women, Trade Unions)

Ex Parte Crow Dog

Ex Parte Crow Dog

1883, The Supreme Court rules that the federal government does not have the jurisdiction to try Crow Dog.

US V. Kagama

1886, The Supreme Court upheld the major crimes act, stating that congress had plenary powers over Native affairs.

Cherokee Nation V. Hitchcock

1902, This reinforced the idea that tribes were subject to extensice federal oversight and intervention in their internal matters.

Lone Wolf V. Hitchcock

1903, The Supreme Court ruled that congress had the authority to unilaterally abrogate treaties with Native tribes.

US V. Sandoval

1913, The Supreme Court ruled that Pueblo Indians were indeed under federal jurisdiction, and they could not own land due to ‘incompetence’.

Harrison V. Lee

1948, This stated that the interpretation of the ‘Indians not taxed’ clause was incorrect and that Natives who met other voter eligibility requirements should be allowed to vote.

Oneida Indian Nation V. County of Oneida

1974, This resulted in an increased number of actions taken to regain tribal lands.

Fisher V. Montana

1976, Tribal Courts could decide over the adoption of Native children.

US V. Sioux Nation

1980, The Sioux nation was compensated $17.5 million with a 5% interest rate of back pay since 1887, resulting in an additional $106 million. They declined.

Seminol Tribe of Florida V. Butterworth

1981, Native Americans had the right to gamble on their own land.

Charrier V. Bell

1982, Natives had the rights over the physical possessions of the remains that were dug up from NA burial grounds, these remains would be returned to them.

Oneida II

1985, Allowed the Oneida tribe to seek monetary compensation for the unlawful taking of their land.

Slaughterhouse Case

1873, The 14th Amendment only protected the rights of national citizenship and did not apply to state rights.

US V. Cruikshank

1876, The courts could not prosecute individuals for violating the civil rights of African Americans. The 14th Amendments equal protection clause only applied to state actions.

Plessy V. Ferguson

1896, The ‘Seperate but Equal’ Doctrine was federal, segregation was now a legal precedent.

Williams V. Mississippi

1898, The use of voter poll taxes and literacy tests did not violate the 14th and 15th Amendments.

Buchanan V. Warley

1917, The Kentucky ordinance requiring racial segregation in residential areas was unconstitutional.

Moore V. Dempsey

1923, Twelve AA farmers in Arkansas had their death sentances reversed.

Powell V. Alabama (Scottsboro Boys)

1931, The defendents had been denied their right to due process because they were not given adequate legal representation.

Trudeau V. Barnes

1933, The Clause ‘Applicants for registration must be able to read and give reasonable interpretation of constitutional provisions’ does not violate the 15th Amendment.

Missouri ex rel. Gaines V. Canada

1938, The denial of Lloyd Gaines’ admission into the university of Missouri law based soley on his race violated the 14th Amendment.

Smith V. Allwright

1944, The Texas Democratic party’s practice of excluding African Americans from primary elections was a violation of the 15th Amendment.

Brown V. Topeka

1954, The seperate but equal doctrine was unconstitutional in education. “Seperate educational facilities are inherently unequal”.

Browder V. Gayle

1956, Racial segregation on public buses in montgomery, Alabama was unconstitutional.

Boynton V. Virginia

1960, Racial segregation in bus terminal restaurants and waiting rooms was discriminatory and violated federal law.

Griggs V. Duke Power Company

1971, Employment practices such as requiring a high school diploma or passing a standardised test, that disproportionately affect African American workers and were not directly related to job performance were discriminatory.

Swann V. Charlotte-Mecklenburg

1971, The segregation of educational facilities to be ended through the support of the Bussing of School Children Act.

Green V. Connally

1971, Schools practising racial discrimination could not be eligible for tax-exempt status.

Milliken V. Bradley

1974, Stopped bussing from white urban areas to black metropolitan areas.

Regents of the University of California V. Bakke

1978, Racial quotas in university admissions were unconstitutional. Race could be considered as a factor in admission to promote diversity.