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Second Continental Congress
George Washington is elected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgewashington -
Period: to
Significant historical events during this time
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The Declaration of Independence
Gave us the unalienable rights of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". It also describes that "all men are created equal". It was written by Thomas Jefferson. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/ -
George Washington takes oath of office
He is sworn in as the First President of the United States. http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgewashington -
Emancipation Proclamation
Slaves who were in states that had seceded from the Union were freed. It did not completely end slavery in the United States. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/ -
Brown vs. Board of Education
The case ruling of "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" established Thurgood Marshall as one of the most successful lawyers during this time. http://www.biography.com/people/thurgood-marshall-9400241 -
Beginning of what would become the Mongomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama. She was arrested because she violated the city's racial segregation laws. http://www.biography.com/people/rosa-parks-9433715?page=2 -
Bus segregation laws for the city of Montgomery and state of Alabama struck down by the Supreme Court
The strike down of these laws led to the end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It desegregated city buses. http://www.biography.com/people/rosa-parks-9433715?page=3 -
"I Have a Dream" Speech
Martin Luther King, Jr makes his speech in front of hundreds of thousands of people during the March on Washington event in front of the Lincoln Memorial. This speech helped influence the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086?page=5 -
Thurgood Marshall sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice
He became the first African American to serve in the Supreme Court. http://www.biography.com/people/thurgood-marshall-9400241?page=2 -
Memorial Day
This holiday is celebrated on the last Monday of May each year (the date listed is just an example). It is a day to celebrate the lives of all men and women who have died in military service in the United States. The origin of this holiday goes back to honoring Union soldiers who died during the Civil War. http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/memorial-day -
Veteran's Day
This holiday is celebrated on the same date of each year (even though the date here lists the year 2013). It is for honoring all living military personnel who have served in wars representing the United States. The origin of this holiday goes back to the anniversary of the signing of an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations that ended World War I in 1918. http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/veterans-day