Myers v. Anderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Myers v. Anderson |
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| Argued November 11–12, 1913 Decided June 21, 1915 |
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| Full case name | Charles E. Myers and A. Claude Kalmey, Plffs. in Err., v. John B. Anderson; Charles E. Myers and A. Claude Kalmey, Plffs. in Err., v. William H. Howard; Charles E. Myers and A. Claude Kalmey, Plffs. in Err., v. Robert Brown |
| Citations | 238 U.S. 368 (more)
35 S. Ct. 932; 59 L. Ed. 1349
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| Holding | |
| 182 F. 223 affirmed | |
| Court membership | |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | White |
| Laws applied | |
| U.S. Const. amend. XV | |
Myers v. Anderson was an important decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1915. The Court ruled that officials in Maryland had to pay for damages because they used an unfair rule called a "grandfather clause." This rule stopped many Black citizens from voting.
Contents
What Was the Case About?
The case of Myers v. Anderson was about voting rights in Maryland. Some state officials were using a special rule that made it harder for certain people to vote. This rule was called a "grandfather clause."
Grandfather Clauses Explained
Grandfather clauses were rules that let some people avoid voting requirements. These requirements included things like paying a special tax (a poll tax) or taking a reading and writing test (a literacy test).
The clauses said you didn't have to meet these requirements if your grandfather had been a registered voter. This rule was mostly designed to help white voters. It made sure they could vote, while making it very hard for Black people, especially former slaves and their children, to vote.
The Court's Decision
The Supreme Court decided that the Maryland law using the grandfather clause was unfair. They said it was discriminatory and went against the Fifteenth Amendment. This amendment protects the right to vote for all citizens, no matter their race.
The Court made it clear that such rules were illegal. This decision helped protect voting rights for many people.
A Similar Case: Guinn v. United States
Myers v. Anderson was heard at the same time as another important case, Guinn v. United States. In the Guinn case, the Supreme Court also struck down a grandfather clause. This one was from Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma clause also let white voters skip a literacy test. The Court found it was unfair and broke the Fifteenth Amendment. Both cases were key steps in fighting against rules that stopped people from voting because of their race.
