Yick Wo v. Hopkins

Definition

Yick Wo v. Hopkins was a landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of equal protection under the law, ruling that a law that is neutral on its face but applied in a discriminatory manner is unconstitutional. The case was significant in the context of the impact of expansion on Chinese immigrants and Hispanic citizens in the United States.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Yick Wo v. Hopkins was decided by the Supreme Court in 1886, making it one of the earliest civil rights cases heard by the Court.
2. The case involved a San Francisco ordinance that required laundry operators to obtain a permit, which was systematically denied to Chinese immigrants while being granted to non-Chinese applicants.
3. The Court ruled unanimously that the ordinance, while neutral on its face, was being applied in a discriminatory manner that violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
4. The decision established the principle that even facially neutral laws can be unconstitutional if they are applied in a way that discriminates against a particular group.
5. Yick Wo v. Hopkins was a significant victory for the rights of Chinese immigrants, who faced widespread discrimination and exclusion during the period of westward expansion in the late 19th century.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Yick Wo v. Hopkins decision established the principle of equal protection under the law.
  • The Yick Wo v. Hopkins decision established the principle of equal protection under the law by ruling that a law that is neutral on its face but applied in a discriminatory manner is unconstitutional. The Court found that the San Francisco ordinance, while seemingly neutral, was being enforced in a way that unfairly targeted and disadvantaged Chinese immigrants, violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This landmark ruling affirmed that the government cannot selectively apply laws in a way that discriminates against a particular group, even if the law itself does not explicitly mention that group.
• Describe the significance of the Yick Wo v. Hopkins decision in the context of the impact of expansion on Chinese immigrants and Hispanic citizens.
  • The Yick Wo v. Hopkins decision was significant in the context of the impact of expansion on Chinese immigrants and Hispanic citizens because it addressed the widespread discrimination and exclusion these groups faced during the period of westward expansion in the late 19th century. The case highlighted how local governments could use facially neutral laws to unfairly target and disadvantage certain immigrant and minority communities, even as the United States was rapidly expanding its borders and population. The Court's ruling in Yick Wo v. Hopkins established an important legal precedent that helped protect the rights of Chinese immigrants and set the stage for future civil rights cases that would challenge discriminatory practices against other marginalized groups, such as Hispanic citizens, as the nation continued to grow and diversify.
• Analyze how the Yick Wo v. Hopkins decision influenced the development of equal protection jurisprudence and its impact on the experiences of Chinese immigrants and Hispanic citizens during the period of westward expansion.
  • The Yick Wo v. Hopkins decision was a landmark case that significantly influenced the development of equal protection jurisprudence in the United States. By ruling that a facially neutral law could be unconstitutional if applied in a discriminatory manner, the Court established a powerful legal principle that would be used to challenge a wide range of discriminatory practices in the decades to come. This was particularly significant for Chinese immigrants and Hispanic citizens, who faced widespread discrimination and exclusion during the period of westward expansion. The Yick Wo v. Hopkins decision provided a legal framework for these groups to challenge unfair laws and policies that unfairly targeted them, even if the laws did not explicitly mention their race or ethnicity. The case set an important precedent that helped pave the way for future civil rights victories and laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and equitable vision of American society as the country continued to grow and diversify.

Related terms

Equal Protection Clause: The Equal Protection Clause is part of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits states from denying any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Discriminatory Application of Laws: Discriminatory application of laws refers to the enforcement of laws in a manner that unfairly targets or disadvantages certain groups or individuals based on factors such as race, ethnicity, or national origin.

Fourteenth Amendment: The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to African Americans and enslaved persons who had been emancipated after the American Civil War.