There are a lot of examples of rights and laws that we as the American people have acquired and held over the years. One of the most famous of these laws is the 1966 case of Miranda vs. Arizona. This case alone brought upon many more new changes in law enforcement procedures then ever thought possible. Ernesto Miranda was arrested and prosecuted in March of 1963 for the kidnapping and rape of and 18-year-old woman. When given a police lineup the woman pinpointed Miranda as the criminal offender. He was questioned for two hours. During this time Miranda later stated that he didn't know that he had the right to remain silent. He confesed, signed a statment admitting and describing the crime, was convicted, and then appealed. .
The supreme court then reversed the conviction and stated that the Fith Amendment clearly states that the accused must be informed of thier rights. If they are not informed, then anything said by the accused cannot be held against them in a court of law. The following is a quote from Chif Justice Earl Warren, 1966: "Prior to questioning, the person must be warned that any statement he does make may be used as evidence against him, and that he has a right to the presence of an attorney, either retained or appointed.".
Another example of our rights is the trial of 1954's Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka. The over all ruling was that segregation in schools is illegal. Linda Carol Brown was eaight years old when the a segragated all wite school wouldn't admit her because she was black. She was then signed to an all black school a long way from home. The National Association fo the Advancement of Colored People then helped her sue the school stating that segregated schools could never be equal. So, segregated schools were illegal. The court then ruled in favor of Brown and began the process of desegregating schools troughout the nation. This single act along with many simular smaller cases put the foot in the door for desegregating all place bit by bit.