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First African American slave ship arrives in American colonies
By 1690 every colony has slaves. -
Congress bans further importation of slaves
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Slaves escape to the North
Approx 75,000 slaves escape to the North using the Underground Railroad 1831-1861 -
Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery
Harriet Tubman (1820 – 1913) escapes from slavery and becomes an instrumental leader of the Underground Railroad. -
Fugitive Slave Act passed
Congress passes another Fugitive Slave Act, which mandates government participation in the capture of escaped slaves. -
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation
Proclaims that all slaves in rebellious territories are forever free -
13th Amendment ratified
Prohibits slavery -
The "Black Codes"
The “Black Codes” are passed by all white legislators of the former Confederate States. Congress passes the Civil Rights Act, conferring citizenship on African Americans and granting them equal rights to whites. The Ku Klux Klan is formed in Tennessee. -
The KKK is formed
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14th Amendment ratified
Defining citizenship, overturning the Dred Scot decision. -
15th Amendment Ratified
Gives African Americans the right to vote -
Jim Crow segregation laws passed
Tennessee passes the first of the “Jim Crow” segregation laws, segregating state railroads. Similar laws are passed over the next 15 years throughout the Southern states. -
Civil Rights Act signed
The Civil Rights Act is signed, prohibiting discrimination of all kinds. -
Voting Rights Act passed
Outlawing the practices used in the South to disenfranchise African American voters -
Barack Obama wins presidential race
First African American to win the US presidential race
