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First Slaves Brought from Africa
Historians believe that the first slaves to arrive in British North America lived in Jamestown in 1619. There were 32 in total at this time. Not too long after, many slaves were brought across the Middle Passage, primarily from West Africa, enduring a journey of terrible living conditions and suffering. -
Three-Fifths Compromise
Reached by Southern and Northern states, the Three-Fifths compromise said that a slave counted as three-fifths of a person when counting a states population. This number would be used for things such as determining how much representation a state would receive in the House of Representatives. This clause implied that slaves were totally enequal to white American citizens. -
Prohibition of External American Slave Trade
This ban discontinued the importation of slaves to America. Slaves were still permitted to be traded within America. This act occured at the beginning of the gradual movement towards the total abolition of slavery. -
Harriet Tubman born
Harriet Tubman, a well renowned historical figure, was born into slavery but later escaped. She then helped many slaves escape by leading them through the Underground Railroad, a system developed to house and feed slaves as they made their way North. Tubman's work was crucial for progress towards abolition. -
Booker T. Washington born
Booker T. Washington, a popular African American figure, pushed agricultural and industrial education on African Americans to attempt to end racism. He believed that through economic prosperity, these suffering black Americans could gain social prosperity. Washington emphasized that success would come gradually by means of menial labor and a steady struggle as opposed to flat out demands for equality. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford Case
This supreme court case resulted in the decision that African Americans were not citizens and therefore could not sue in the court of law. Dred Scott, a slave, was taken to a free state and decided that he should try to sue for his freedom. This decision rendered him unable to do such a thing. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation, shifting the Civil War's aim to freeing slaves. This document also allowed black men to enlist in the Union army, something that many had been trying to do for some time. This document was a huge step towards freedom for African Americans. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment amended the constitution to abolish slavery by law. This act was a result of the Reconstruction after the civil war. This amendment was an official freeing of the slaves. -
W.E.B. Du Bois born
W.E.B. Du Bois was a popular intellectual who sought to put an end to injustices against African Americans. His approach was direct in that he stood defiant against white supremacist leaders and criticized black Americans that would not act out for what was right. He believed that the “Talented Tenth” or the 1/10 of the black population that possessed high intellect should take the lead in making these demands and attacked Washington’s ideologies. He was also a founding member of the NAACP. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment to the consitution granted full rights and citizenship to freedmen, something that was not a guarantee before. This amendment invalidated previous decisions such as the Dred Scott case. -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment granted suffrage to African Americans and any other American citizen of color. This amendment was the third amendment of the Reconstruction era giving rights to African Americans. -
Plessy v. Ferguson Case
The result of the Plessy v. Ferguson Case was that segregation was allowed and "separate but equal" was maintained. Plessy and his lawyers were trying to challenge the segregation laws by claiming that the 14th amenedment should override these. The failure to do so was a significant obstacle in achieving equality for African Americans. -
NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was an organization started by a mixture of white men and black men, including W.E.B. Du Bois, that fought for the Civil Rights of African Americans. This organization helped tremendously with the struggle for equality and did things such as help win the Brown v. Board of Education case. -
Malcom X born
Malcom X was born, Malcom Little, but changed his last name due to its being his "slave name." He was a human rights activist but differed from MLK in that he did not believe in a peaceful means to achieving goals and did not agree that white and blacks should be integrated. He inspired the Black Power Movement which was more militant in nature than prior movements. -
Martin Luther King Jr. born
Martin Luther King Jr. was an African American leader in the struggle for civil rights. His ideologies were based on the grounds of peaceful protest. King was the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights movement and was made the head of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. He was assasinated in 1968 but his actions lived on as African Americans pressed on and gradually acquired more rights. -
Executive Order 9981
Executive Order 9981, made by Harry Truman, ended racial discrimination in the US armed forces and caused the desegregation of troops. Until this act, African Americans did not nearly have the authority that white Americans did. During WWII, black Americans were not allowed to serve in combative positions but rather service positions. -
Brown v. Board of Education Case
This supreme court case decision resulted in the idea of "separate but equal" to be ineffective in schools. It was determined unconstitutional for there to be segregated schools. This decision was a significant triumph in the struggle for equal rights among African Americans. -
Freedom Rides
The Freedom Rides took place in the Upper South during a time when segregation in public transportation was still in effect but not legal. African Americans rode these busses and trains and caused a huge retaliation of violence from racist white Americans. These acts were carried out ind order to coerce federal government to step in and create new laws to enforce civil rights. -
March on Washinton
The March on Washington was a massive political rally started with the goal of acquiring rights, both economic and civil, for African Americans. MLK delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech during this march which inspired thousands of people. This march was a great success due to the sheer size of the demonstration and helped out in the overall goal for civil rights. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This civil rights act was passed with the intention of eliminating discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Places of public accomodation like restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, etc., could no longer discriminate based on these traits. This act was a huge succes and a result of all the previous efforts made in fighting for equality.
