Oppression of African Americans Throughout U.S. History

  • Slavery Instituted

    The first group of slaves were instituted in the colonies.
  • First of Slave revolts

    The New York Slave Revolt of 1712, one of the first of many such rebellions
  • Slaves are promised freedom (first time)

    Thousands of enslaved African Americans in the South escaped to British or Loyalist lines, as they were promised freedom if they fought with the British.
  • Expansion of slavery is banned (in certain places)

    The Northwest Ordinance bans the expansion of slavery into U.S. territories north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River.
  • Fugitive Slave act

    The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 passed. This made it law that any escaped slaves must return to their rightful owners.
  • Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin

    Eli Whitney is granted a patent on the cotton gin. This enabled the widespread cultivation and processing of short-staple cotton. Increasing the number of slaves needed, forcing the migration of millions of slaves.
  • Slave Trade is Banned

    Importation of Slaves is banned
  • Anti-Slavery Society

    The American Anti-Slavery Society. an abolitionist society, is founded. Lead by William Llyod Garrison, Arthur Tappan, and Fredrick Douglas
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe is published.
  • Civil War begins

    Starting as a conflict of keeping the union together, Lincoln is able to change the cause of war to abolish slavery to appease abolishonists in the north.
  • Emacipation Proclamation

    Declared the freedom of all slaves in any state of the Confederate States of America that did not return to the Union, only applied to ten specific states declared by Lincoln
  • XII Amendment

    Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation
  • XIV Ammendment

    Allowed african americans to become legal citizens of the United States.
  • XV Ammendment

    The citizen's right to vote shall not be denied based on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
  • Strauder v. West Virginia

    A court case that appealed that anybody can serve on a jury and not be denied the right.
  • Plessy V. Ferguson

    Ruled as "seperate but equal", african americans were not protected under certain civil rights and were abused in the south.