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The Fugitive Slave Act was passed that allowed white people to get back escaped slaves.
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Prohibits government from denying the right to vote based on skin color or previous slavery.
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Harriet Beecher Stowe's anti-slavery novel published.
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Supreme Court ruled that African-Americans were not citizens, thus not protected by the Constitution. Scott, who had lived free after slavery, sued for his freedom. The court eventually ruled that because he technically was not a citizen, he could not bring his case before the courts.
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Issued by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, freeing black slaves in Southern states.
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Rebecca Lee becomes the first African-American woman to receive an M.D. degree.
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The 14th Amendment is ratified, overruling Dred Scott, and providing a broad definition of citizenship.
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Supreme Court rules that "separate but equal" educational facilities are constitutional.
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The National Association for the Advancement of Colored people is founded.
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Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American in the major leagues as he makes his debut.
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Supreme Court overturns Plessy v. Ferguson and rules the doctrine of "Separate but equal" unconstitutional.
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Rosa parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus, on which African-Americans were supposed to sit in the back.
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The Southern Christian Leaders Conference was founded, an American civil rights organization.
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The Civil Rights Act of 1964, introduced by John F. Kennedy, was passed.
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
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Thurgood Marshall becomes the first African-American appointed to the Supreme Court.
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Colin Powell was appointed the first African-American Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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Barak Obama becomes the first African-American elected president of the United States.