Supreme Court Cases
Despite Congress passing significant laws to protect political and civil rights of black Americans, the Supreme Court began to take away some of these protections. By the late 1870s, the Supreme Court confining decisions narrowed theses amendments to the extent that the federal government did not have the power to protect the rights of black Americans. These rulings would eventually be overturned, but these verdicts delayed African Americans’ efforts to gain equality for decades to come.
Slaughterhouse cases
The majority of civil rights were to be ruled by state rights, rather than federal, and therefore unprotected by the Fourteenth Amendment.
In this decision, the Supreme Court redefined the Fourteenth Amendment leaving freed slaves with less rights and the rest of the federal government powerless to help.
US v. Cruikshank
In 1876, the Court the Fourteenth Amendment was ruled not to grant the federal government the power for punish whites who oppressed African Americans.
In this court case, the Supreme Court specifically singled out that the federal government does not have the authority to help freed slaves against discrimination. They are making black Americans fend for themselves.
US v. Reese
In 1876, the Court ruled that the Fifteenth Amendment was determined not to grant suffrage rights to anyone, but rather restrict voter discrimination.
In this court case, the Supreme Court indirectly countered the suffrage rights of freed slaves. For instance, to vote, people had to pass a literacy test. Although African American education was rising, after hundreds of years of being punished if they were taught to read and write, it would be impossible for freed slaves to pass this test.
Slaughterhouse cases
The majority of civil rights were to be ruled by state rights, rather than federal, and therefore unprotected by the Fourteenth Amendment.
In this decision, the Supreme Court redefined the Fourteenth Amendment leaving freed slaves with less rights and the rest of the federal government powerless to help.
US v. Cruikshank
In 1876, the Court the Fourteenth Amendment was ruled not to grant the federal government the power for punish whites who oppressed African Americans.
In this court case, the Supreme Court specifically singled out that the federal government does not have the authority to help freed slaves against discrimination. They are making black Americans fend for themselves.
US v. Reese
In 1876, the Court ruled that the Fifteenth Amendment was determined not to grant suffrage rights to anyone, but rather restrict voter discrimination.
In this court case, the Supreme Court indirectly countered the suffrage rights of freed slaves. For instance, to vote, people had to pass a literacy test. Although African American education was rising, after hundreds of years of being punished if they were taught to read and write, it would be impossible for freed slaves to pass this test.