The Top 20 Most Controversial Laws in History

Laws are meant to establish order in society, set standards for behavior and protect the rights of citizens. However, history is filled with controversial laws that have sparked debates, protests and even wars. Here are the top 20 most controversial laws in history that have caused uproar around the world.

The Prohibition

In 1920, the US government enacted the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. This led to the rise of organized crime, corruption, and the disregard for law with speakeasies and secret clubs providing liquor.

The Nuremberg Laws

These antisemitic laws instituted in Nazi Germany excluded Jews from different public spaces, marriage, and citizenship. They also played a pivotal role in creating the circumstances that allowed for the Holocaust.

The Indian Removal Act of 1830

This law resulted in the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands. The federal government relocated the Cherokee nation from Georgia to Oklahoma, who were subsequently forced to walk over a thousand miles in what is known as “The Trail of Tears.”

Apartheid Laws

These laws were instituted in South Africa to promote racial segregation, suppression of the black majority, and the overall promotion of apartheid. This enforced place of race on people was ended with protests and the imprisonment of the prominent African leader Nelson Mandela for 27 years.

The Fugitive Slave Act

This 1850 law was seen as a controversial compromise between southern and northern US states to maintain slavery. The act required individuals capturing escaped slaves found in the north to return them to their southern owners. It fueled the abolitionist movement and promoted activism across the country.

The Chinese Exclusion Act

In 1882 the US passed a law that banned Chinese immigrants from coming into the country. This act also stopped Chinese immigrants already in the US from gaining citizenship, effectively singling out this group by targeting their race and national origin.

The Patriot Act

These laws in the early 2000s allowed for expanded surveillance, including wire-tapping, email monitoring, and the dissemination of personal data. The Patriot act has sparked much discussion around questions of national security, privacy, and civil liberty.

The Jim Crow Laws

These laws in the southern US established segregated K-12 schools and mandated racial segregation in other public spaces like public restrooms, theaters and restaurants. Doing so violated the rights of African American people while also perpetuating the idea of their supposed inferiority to the white population.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement(TPP)

A controversial international trade agreement and, with the release of WikiLeaks documents or report, resulted in multiple damages to various concerns. The TPP exploited intellectual property standards and dangerous policies regarding environmental standards among its member states, leading to vehement protest movements recorded globally.

Sedition Act

Implemented in 1918, this act is memorable for abridging a person’s right to free speech and active contentious publication in a time when humanity was already disgusted, outraged and suffocating from numerous suppressive measures, waves of protests from anarchists and labor movements.

Roe vs. Wade

A 1973 landmark decision which legalized abortion. This law sparked widespread discourse, split religious societies, and changed the ideologies of conservative influences. To date, Roe v. Wade is still hotly debated and haunts legal conversations in regards to the natural rights of women regarding their reproductive healthcare to persevere or dispose of certain pregnancies.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT)

Put in place in the United States within 1992 until 2011, DADT prohibited Lesbian, gay or bisexual people from openly serving within the US Military. Despite outcry protections and extensive criticism as demoralizing to different groups involved, DADT only ends officially in 1986 onwards yet overlooked and confirmed evergreen only on September 20, 2011.

Miranda Rights

Implemented by the Supreme Court in the United States since 1966, it states that every U.S. citizen needs to be read their Miranda rights and notified they can remain silent while facing accusations. Whilst upholding the right to a fair trial, it reversed the country’s justice system and reshaped laws regarding being accused or interrogations.

Net Neutrality

Created to keep the internet equal in stream accessibility and information regardless of where it came from, against authoritarian involvement, The repeal of acts related to net neutrality put this balance fundamentally at risk, and has produced observations that prove detrimental to fair and equal accessibility within the worldwide web.

Licenses for Christians into Islamic Countries

From the late 19th century to 20th century, this law permits Christians access passage into Islamic Countries around the world. Witnesses in specific religious activities or ceremonies but activities outside of that may prove uncomfortable and harsh to visitors who possess different religious backgrounds. Many reports show significant discrimination, especially in Fundamental Islamic communities.

Martin Luther’s 95 Theses

Vocal opposition spanning centuries back affirmed controversy concerning religious leader Martin Luther’s released document circulated in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church, emphasizing society’s various beliefs about what different events are truly going within the religion.

“I Have a Dream Speech”

A momentous essay framed by the late speech-giver, Martin Luther King Jr, which spawned clear opinions for equal opportunities proving significant especially at its time of release but sparked debates towards affirmative action also widely utilized as a speech encouraging envisioning of positive peaceful race relations.

Draft Card Burning

Laws related to draft justifications have always been controversial, but in 1965 protests from draft resisters increased specifically when a review was called up to highly tense supports of Vietnam known as the “burn your Draft card” phase where citizens primarily burned their draft cards alongside strong anti-government propaganda.

The Defense of Marriage Act

A direct assault against LGBTQ+ rights leaves marital equality behind. Imposed during President Bill Clinton’s time on the cabinets’ desk, where requirements stir containing objection to same-sex marriage, in 2015 the Supreme Court reversed America of what’s considered the largest setback from personal gender views, constitutionally invoking the human right of liberty in explicit accordance with marriage declarations.