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Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln gives his famous Emancipation Proclamation, which frees all slaves in the south(which has succeeded). -
The Era of Reconstruction Begins
After the end of the Civil War, the south agreese to allow northern soilders to come "reconstruct" their land. This entitled not only fixing all that was destroyed in the war, but also fixing the corrupt political system that they had in place. This advanced the role of African Americans in the south because they were then able to gain their freedom and have more of a say in the government. -
14th Amendment
Overturning the decision made in the Dred Scot case, the 14th Amendment defined citizenship in favor of viewing the African American population as just that, a population made up of human beings, instead of property. -
Fifteenth Amendment
Congress asked for approval from the states to initiate the fifteenth Amendment, which would grant suffrage to African Americans. -
15th Amendment Ratified
To increase the role that elite African Americans played in society, the 15th Amendment was passed, which gave African American men the right to vote. While this was ratified it was not completely put into place in all parts of the south and in the places that it was put into place, it came with strings attached, usually meaning either a reading test, or a minimum land requirement. -
The Era of Reconstruction Ends.
In exchange for Rutherford B. Hayes becoming president, the federal troops were taken out of the south. This can be seen as both a plus for African Americans because the removal of the troops meant that the south had reached a point where they were no longer in need of assistance in the protection of Afircan Americans. This can also however be seen as a step back for African Americans because they were then at a disadvantage because they were only seen as "tokens." -
Jim Crow Laws
States in the south, especially Tennessee start passing Jim Crow Laws which segregated the state railroads. This was once again a step back for African Americans because it enhanced the segregation that was already common within the south. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Supreme Court decides that "separate but equal" is constitutional, thus allowing the Jim Crow segregation laws. This was a set back for African Americans, resulting in the later case Brown v. Board of Education. -
Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education
In the court case that was brought all the way up to the Supreme Court, the justices decided that the previous statement in Plessy vs. Ferguson "seperate but equal" was unconstitutional and that the segregation of public schools was in addition unconstitutional. This decision initiated the desegregation of schools as later carried out by President Eisenhower. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, thus sparking the flame for the soon to come Civil Rights Movement. -
Little Rock Nine
Against his personal political idealology, President Eisenhower issued the desegregation of public schools starting in Little Rock, Arkansas. This shows that Eisenhower knew that even though it was not what he personally wanted, equality between the races was inevitable and he decided to take the step to please the majority of the American population, which was infavor of equality. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act is signed, stating that discrimination of any kind is to be unconstitutional. While it did not completely stop discrimination in total, it legally stopped it. -
Voting Rights Act Passed
To go against the malpractices that were used in the south that discouraged African Americans from voting, the Voting Rights Act was passed. The significance of the passage of this act is that it caused the acts in the south to be considered unconstitutional and advanced the rights of African Americans. -
Edward W. Brooke
Edward W. Brooke becomes the first African American U.S. Senator since Reconstruction. He serves two terms as a Senator from Massachusetts. -
Obama
President Barack Obama becomes the first African American president in history, and was re-elected in 2012 for a second term.
