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Period: Aug 11, 1400 to
African American History
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Aug 14, 1400
Arrival of the Portuguese Ships in Africa
Portuguese ships arrived in Africa's western coast hoping to find Christian allies that were aganist the Muslims of North Africa and to spread Christianity. However, they were more interested in trading with other African kingdoms and to use Africa as a source of trade and wealth with India, China, Japan, and the East Indies (known as Indonesia and Malaysia today). When the demand for the workforce in the Americas grew, a Portugueses began to trade for slaves, and the slave trade began. -
The Alantic Slave Trade
Was the largest forced migration in history that lasted more than 200 years. African Americans were captured and were put on slave ships that carried up to 400 slaves and were taken over the Alantic. Up to three million African Americans died while on the slave ships from diseases, starvation, or lack of fresh air. Before being sold as slaves, African Americans had to go through the process called seasoning that broke newly African Americans into slavery in the Americas. -
Mother Bethel AME Church
Became the first African American church created by Richard Allen after the African American congregation separated from St. Geroge's Church after the treatment and descrimination from the white parish members. The Mother Bethel AME (African Methodist Episcopal) established the Augustine School for African American children and it was run and taught by African Americans. The Mother Bethel AME is located in Philadelphia and is the oldest running African American church. -
54th Massachusetts Regiment
Created by an all free black volunteer infantry regiment that was recuited in the Northern States for service with the Union military forces in the Civil War. African Americans leaders were convinced that this would prove that they deserve to be treated as equals and had earned the right to be citizens. 25 year old Robert Gould Shaw, a white man, was slected to command the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. The 54th paraded though Bosten to board ships for the trip to South Carolina and the War. -
The 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and prohibits involuntary servitude. President Abrahram Lincoln played an important role on making sure that the 13th amendment was passed through the House of Representatives after the abolishment of slavery began with the Emancipation Proclamation. -
The 14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment was created during the Reconstruction Era and it was intened to secure the rights of the former slaves. The 14th Amendment provides a broad defination of national citizenship, requires states to give equal protection under the law to all persons, and it overturned the Dred Scott case. -
The 15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment prevents the government of the United States from not allowing a citizen to vote because of a man's race, color, or his past. Was one of the last Amendments to be passed during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
Homer A. Plessy bought a first-class ticket and attempeted to rideon the coach designated for white people. However, since he was one-eighth black, he was arrested. From an 8-1 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation did not violate the equal rights protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. After the Plessy decision, cities and states in the South passed hundreds of segregation laws -
Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens was one of the African Americans who participated in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, the capital of Nazi Germany. Owens was a very talented runner who became the first Olympian to win four gold medals. He won the 100 m sprint, the long jump with a leap of 26 ft 5 in, the 200 m sprint, and the 4x10 sprint relay. These wins angered Hitler greatly and he refused to acknowledge Jesse Owens' victories. -
Detriot Race Riot
Known to be one of the most bloodest riots in America's history. Relations between whites and African Americans had been smoldering for months, since they have been competing fiercely for jobs and housing. Fighting in the plants, streets, white racism, housing segregation, and economic discrimination were part of the problem. As the violence continued for days, 6,000 federal troops were sent to end the riot. In the end, 34 people were killed, more than 700 people were injured, -
Jackie Robinson
Was the first African American to play baseball in the major leagues. He was signed to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers by the Dodger's general manager, Branch Rickey. Robinson made his first major league debeut aganist the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. He went 0-3 and scored a run on that day. -
Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka
The Supreme Court ruled in favor with the NAACP lawyers and their clients that classification based solely on race violated the Fourtheeth Amendment. Eventually lead to the dismastling of the entire structure of Jim Crow laws and overturned the "seperate but equal" doctrine. -
Brown vs Board of Education of Topeka II
A year after the Brown decision, the Supreme Court ruled a second ruling which addressed the practical process of desegregation. The Court ruled that desegregation in all states should be done at "all deliberate speed". President Eisenhower was displeased with the Court's ruling and refused to put the moral authority of his office behind their enforcement. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
African Americans refused to ride the city busses in Montgomery, Alabama until the bus lines were desegregated. The boycott occured the day after the arrest of an African American woman named Rosa Parks when she refused to give up her seat to a white man. The boycott lasted two years until the bus lines were desegregated. -
March on Washington
Members of the of many civil rights organizations like SCLC, NAACP, CORE, SNCC and the National Urban League organized a march on Washington that was first proposed by A. Phillp Randolph in 1941. 250,000 marchers gathered at the Lincoln Men=morial in Washington D.C. to show their support for the Civil Rights Bill, the movement at large, and President Kennedy's civil rights legislation. Throughout that day, they sang freedom songs, and listened to speeches from civil rights leaders. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 were supported by President Lyndon B. Johnson as a memorial of President John F. Kennedy when he was assassinated on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. The Act banned discrimination in places of public accommodation. Some examples are: hotels, restaurants, pools, schools, gas stations, libaries, play grounds, and parks. -
The Orangeburg Massacre
Black students attending at South Carolina State College began protesting at a local white bowling ally. When tension and protests esclated, state officials deployed the highway patrol and the National Guard. In the evening, the students assembled at the front of the campus and taunted officers by throwing rocks, bottles, and bricks. Without warning highway patrolmen open fired, killing three and wounding 28 students. This was the beginning of the second phase of the black student movement. -
The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis while giving his last and most prophetic speech while addressing the striking sanitation workers by James Earl Ray. His assassination unleashed a major civic rage in black communites. By more than 125 cities, 46 people were dead, 35,000 were injured, and more than 20,000 were arrested during the uprisings. -
Barack Obama
Became the first African American to be elected and to become the United States' President in the country's history. Obama who was a Democratic Illinois Senator won the Presidental campagain over the Republican Arizona Senator, John McCain in one of the largest winning percentages in American history. Obama also won the 2012 Presidental campagin aganist Republican Mitt Romney and he is still in office today. -
I Had a Dream
The empowering speech given given by Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963 during the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial surrounded by 250,000 people. His speech was about how Martin Luther King Jr. sees how the future will be for America and the African Americans.
