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The Civil Rights Act of 1866 gave black citizens some basic rights. They were allowed to sue, contract for work, and own property. President Andrew Johnson had vetoed this bill, but the House overrode him.
http://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/The-Civil-Rights-Bill-of-1866/ -
The 14th Amendment was ratified. This said that states could not deprive a person of life, liberty or due process of law. It also said that states could not deny anyone equal protection of the law.
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/recon/jb_recon_revised_1.html -
The Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal facilities for black and white people does not violate the 14th amendment. This became the constitutional basis for segregation.
http://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/history/1-segregated/separate-but-equal.html -
Several school segregation cases were bundled together under Brown v. Board of Education. This act indicated that the Supreme Court viewed this matter of national importance.
https://www.nps.gov/brvb/learn/historyculture/fivecases.htm -
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Brown which overturned earlier rulings. This ruled that racial segregation in schools was a violation of the 14th amendment's equal protection clause. https://www.thoughtco.com/1954-segregation-ruled-illegal-in-u-s-1779355
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Some states resisted the supreme court's ruling. The supreme court then issued Brown II. It ordered that desegregation much begin "with all deliberate speed".
http://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/history/6-legacy/deliberate-speed.html -
Arkansas refused to obey the desegregation orders. In Cooper v. Aaron the court reaffirms its commitment to Brown and says states must comply.
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/democracy/landmark_cooper.html
