-
Slavery began in the year 1619, when african americans were brought to be used as slaves to Jamestown, Virginia.
-
An african american known as Wentworth Chestwell was given the title of town constable in 1768, becoming the first african american to hold a high ranking position. This happened while slavery existed too.
-
During this year, four states allowed blacks to vote, which lead on to several other states allowing it throughout the next few years too.
-
In 1777, New York allowed blacks to vote.
-
In 1780, Massachusetts passed a law allowing african americans to vote in their state.
-
Throughout the next several years, many more states would come to allow african american voting and non-white voting even while slavery still raged on in the south.
-
Abraham Lincoln is elected 16th president of the United States, his most influential significance being his abolition of slavery in the later years.
-
On January 1st of 1863, Abraham Lincoln wins the civil war for the north and issues the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all african american slaves.
-
The 13th Amendment is made, outlawing slavery everywhere in the US.
-
The 14th Amendment is made, securing the rights of African Americans in the U.S.
-
The 15th Amendment is made, allowing african americans to vote in the US.
-
PBS Pinchback is elected to be the first governer of black lineage in the US.
-
An african american woman by the name of Rosa Parks refuses being asked to move to the back of a bus and is arrested, setting off a large bus boycott and helping the civil rights movement.
-
In 1957, The civil rights act is passed to put an end to racism in the US, although it didn't stop it much at all. This is only the first of a few civil rights acts that will be passed throughout the next few years to help the blacks in the US.
-
Martin Luther King writes a letter against violent racism after being sent to jail for speaking out against segregation.
-
Martin Luther King gives his famous speech: "I Have a Dream" about his dream of a world with equal rights where every person is treated equally because that is what the world was made for.
-
Martin Luther King is assassinated in 1968 for his movement against segregation.
-
Barack Obama is elected to be the 44th president of the US and the first ever black president, helping continuously with equal rights in the US.
-
Barack Obama is re-elected for a second term in office, and continues to serve as an iconic symbol for the length that african americans have come since slavery.
