About McLaughlin v. State of Florida in 1964

About McLaughlin v. State of Florida in 1964 Background: An interracial black-white couple, identified only as McLaughlin in the ruling, was prohibited from marrying under Florida law. Like same-sex couples prohibited from marrying today, they chose to live together anywayand were convicted under Florida Statute 798.05, which reads: Any negro man and white woman, or any white man and negro woman, who are not married to each other, who shall habitually live in and occupy in the nighttime the same room shall each be punished by imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars. Fast Facts: McLaughlin v. Florida Case Argued: Oct. 13-14, 1964Decision Issued: Dec. 7, 1964Petitioner: McLaughlinRespondent: State of FloridaKey Question: Can an interracial couple be subjected to race-contingent fornication charges?Majority Decision: White, Warren, Black, Clark, Brennan, Goldberg, Harlan, Stewart, DouglasDissenting: NoneRuling: The Supreme Court ruled that the Florida criminal statute that prohibits an unmarried interracial couple from habitually living in and occupying the same room in the night-time denies the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, and is thus unconstitutional. The Central Question: Can an interracial couple be subjected to race-contingent fornication charges? Relevant Constitutional Text: The Fourteenth Amendment, which reads in part: 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. The Courts Ruling: In a unanimous 9-0 ruling, the Court struck down 798.05 on grounds that it violates the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court also potentially opened the door to full legalization of interracial marriage by remarking that the 1883 Pace v. Alabama represents a limited view of the Equal Protection Clause which has not withstood analysis in the subsequent decisions of this Court. Justice Harlans Concurrence: Justice Marshall Harlan concurred with the unanimous ruling but expressed some frustration with the fact that Floridas blatantly discriminatory law banning interracial marriage was not directly addressed. Justice Stewarts Concurrence: Justice Potter Stewart, joined by Justice William O. Douglas, joined in the 9-0 ruling but expressed firm disagreement in principle with its implicit statement that racially discriminatory laws might be constitutional under certain circumstances if they serve some overriding statutory purpose. I think it is simply not possible, Justice Stewart wrote, for a state law to be valid under our Constitution which makes the criminality of an act depend upon the race of the actor. Aftermath: The case put an end to laws banning interracial relationships as a whole, but not to laws banning interracial marriage. That would come three years later in the landmark Loving v. Virginia (1967) case.

Advancements essays

Advancements essays Some of the advancements made in technology during the 1790s started off when the industry could not be stimulated overnight, because it required technology and the willingness of businessmen to invest time and capital for the long term. In 1788, the Pennsylvania Society for the encouragement of Manufactures and the useful arts introduced spinning jennies to their textile factory in Philadelphia. The jennies threatened to displace home spinners by producing cheaper yarn and thread. Another brand new technology that appeared was in 1790, Samuel Slater brought a new phase in American cloth production by building a textile mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, using water power to run the sinning machines. No satisfactory power loom existed, so Slaters mill performed only the first two steps of cloth production (preparing the cloth fibers for spinning, and spinning the thread.) He then used the putting-out system of distributing the thread to families, who produced the cloth at home. One more person who made an impact on the advancement of technology in the 1790s was Oliver Evans. He apprenticed as a wagon maker and became intrigued with machines. Evans heard that the Scottish inventor James Watt improved the steam engine a few years earlier. Evans began building his own model but for lack of money, thirty years passed before he actually installed a high pressure steam engine in his gypsum fertilizer factory in Philadelphia. This was the first such application of steam power to an industrial setting. Evans also developed the idea of automating mills. He devised water powered machinery for large grist mills that allowed one worker instead of three to supervise all the steps of producing flour. ...

World War II Through the 1970s Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

World War II Through the 1970s - Essay Example This paper explores significant turning points in American history at the said time. In addition, the paper explores the impact that the developments had on America’s society, economy, politics, and culture. Moreover, the paper explores why Americans in the late 1930s did not wish to be engaged in the World War II. The paper also explores significant contributions made by women during World War II as well civil rights breakthroughs after World War II. Lastly, the paper explores the impact of Vietnam War on the new generation of young Americans as well as President Johnson’s â€Å"Great Society.† #1 Some of the two turning points in American history post World War II through to 1970s include the cold war era and Civil Rights Movements. The Cold War intensified moments after the end of the Second World War. When the war ended marked by an allied victory, material differences surfaced between America and the Soviets. Cold War was a period of tension, suspicions, and hostility between U.S. and Soviet Union spanning from mid-40s to the late 80s. During the period, there were indirect conflicts such as Vietnam War, Cuban missile crisis, and Korea wars (Armstrong, 1998). American civil rights movement had its roots in the century-long efforts of African slaves, as well as their descendants in efforts to get rid of institution of slavery and racial oppression. The U.S. Constitution amendments did not entirely emancipate the slaves as it did not secure federal protection of the civil rights. Significant happenings during the Civil Rights Movement include desegregating Little Rock (1957), sit-ins (1960), Freedom rides (1961), voter registrations, Albany Movement (1961-1962), Birmingham Campaign (1963-1964), March on Washington (1963), and Civil Rights Act of 1964. #2 The cold war shaped American foreign policy as well as political ideology. Cold War also had a substantial bearing on the American presidency. Similarly, Cold War has led to some politic ians using anti-communist hysteria to advance their rightist agenda. The Cold War also influenced domestic policy both socially and economically. The social impact includes regression of social reforms; the economic impact dwells on enormous industrial growth aided by heavy government expansion. Traces of hostility between the U.S. and Soviet Union, now Russia, are still evident in platforms such as UN Security Council where each party vetoes the other in defense of each party’s interests (Armstrong, 1998). The Civil Rights Movement in 1960s has had a remarkable influence on American society far beyond the struggle for racial justice and equality. Many of the principles, strategies and tactics employed by the civil rights organization such as peaceful protests and acts of civil disobedience such as sit-ins have informed and inspired the social movements of today. Civil Rights Movement has impacted on education and politics in terms of desegregation and other aspects centered on affirmative action. Civil Rights Movements have led to de-institutionalization of discrimination, which has changed America culturally. #3 From 1920s to the 1930s America’s foreign policy leaned towards isolationist. During the Great depression, the focus was on economic growth and the principal determination was to stay out of any conflict as espoused by its isolationist, non-interventionism, and neutrality policy. The isolationist sentiment was inspired partly by the depression. The U.S. thought that they could only fix the depression domestically, and involvement in conflicts was more of a sideshow. Isolationists wanted to stay out of war at any cost as the depression threatened to