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End of the Civil War
The Civil War ends with Robert E. Lee surrendering at Appomattox to ensure the victory of the Union Army. Lincoln is assassinated 6 days after the conclusion of the war. Congress soon ratifies the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude nationwide, which is the original beginning of the modern Civil Rights Movement. -
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Civil Rights
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13th Amendment
Congress ratifies the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude nationwide. This was the first major step of the Civil Rights Movement. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Ratified on April 9th, this Act defined US Citizenship and claimed all citizens were equally protected by law. Mainly enacted to protect the rights of African-Americans post Civil War. -
14th Amendment
Passed over two years before its ratification, the 14th amendment overrules Dred Scott vs Sandford regarding citizenship. The South was almost blackmailed to agree to this as if they didn't, their representation in Congress would be lower. It further addresses citizenship rights and equal protection by law. -
15th Amendment
This was the 3rd of the three Reconstruction Amendments. It prohibits both State and Federal governments from refusing any citizen the right to vote, regardless of their ethnicity, former background (mainly regarding slaves/servants). This attempted to counter the Jim Crow law preventing former slaves from voting. -
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Lynchings
Lynching Statistics of the US during this time. 4,743 people were lynched, with blacks being approximately 73%. Mississippi and Georgia were the 2 states with the highest number of people lynched. 79% of these were in the South. -
Separate but Equal
Legal US Doctrine upheld by the Plessey vs Ferguson case that was within the boundaries of the 14th Amendment. Stated that public areas would be split by race/ethnicity however they would be equal. -
Plessey vs Ferguson
A monumental case in American history which was to determine the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in public under the "seperate but equal" policy. The decision determined this to be constitutional by a vote of 7 to 1. Remained in place until being repealed in 1954 by the Brown vs Board of Education case. -
Formation of NAACP
Formed soon after the Race Riot of 1908 in Illinois. The organization was established to guarentee political, social, educational and economic equality to colored people and to get rid of racist action/hatred towards these people. It worked well with President Truman in trying to improve civil rights issues as well. -
19th Amendment
Allowed women to vote! It Over-ruled Minor vs Happersett which ruled that the 14th Amendment doesn't give women the right to vote. Defended during Leser vs Garnett. -
Order 9981
Issued by President Harry Truman abolishing racial discrimination in the United States Army. Would lead to the end of racial segregation in the armed forces. -
Brown vs Board of Education
Another momumental case in US History. It decided that racial segregation through public schools was unconstitutional via the Equal Protection Clause and the 14th Amendment. It would overturn Plessey vs Ferguson. De jure segregation officially unconstitutional. -
Rosa Parks refuses to stand!
The first major modern leader of the Civil rights movement gets the ball really rolling. She refused to give up her seat to a white person in a bus in Montgomery, Alabama so subsequently got arrested. Met with Martin Luther King & the NAACP to further push for Equality and was the figurehead of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Dec 1, 1955 - Dec 20, 1956, lasting over a year. Political and Social protest against racial discrimination that started after Rosa Parks was arrested for not standing up for a white person and ended once supreme court case Browder vs Gayle concluded that segregation of public transport to be unconstitutional. -
Act of 1957
First Civil Rights bill passed by Congress since 1875. Showed support for Brown vs Board of Education and further protected voting rights. Created the Civil Rights Division in the Justice Department to expand enforcement. -
March on Washington
One of the Largest Political rallies in American History. Approximately 270,000 people attended the event with roughly 80% of them being black. Martin Luther King was the main leader joined by Malcolm X and many others to demand equality and de facto racism. -
"I have a Dream" Speech
Arguably one of the most important and remembered speeches in American History, where he calls for the end of racism. In it, he refers to a line from the emancipation proclaimation, claiming that "100 years later, the slave is not free". It was officially ranked the best speech of the 20th Century in 1999. -
JFK Assassination
The man who solved the Cuban Missle Crisis, established the Peace Corps and was the first to powerful figureofficially set the goal of getting man to the moon was supposedly killed by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas. Not entirely a civil rights event, but it rocked the nation so I felt it was quite important. -
Act of 1964
Officially outlaws discrimination based on sex, color, religion and origin. Completely ends unequal voting rights, racial segregation in schools and at the workplace. Initially quite poorly enforced but later given more powers laters. -
Malcolm X Assassination
Killed at a New York City rally.One of the most influential members of the Civil Rights movement yet his method of approaching racism was very different to MLK’s. Malcolm X told a reporter two days earlier that the Nation of Islam was trying to kill him. He died in the hospital at 3:30pm after being shot 21 times by 3 different shooters. -
Act of 1965
Another act to prohibit racial discrimination in voting. Signed by President Lyndon Johnson and amended 5 times by Congress to expand its protection. -
Black Panther Organization Formed
Armed some citizens to monitor police and prevent police brutality towards blacks. The head of the FBI classified it as a “great threat to internal security”. The 2 major ideologies were anti-racism and Black nationalism. -
Martin Luther King Assassination
Memphis, Tennessee. Shot on the 2nd floor balcony of his hotel room aged 39. We celebrate the 3rd monday of January annually as Martin Luther King day. April 7th was declared a national mourning day. The assumed shooter, James Earl Ray was arrested and given a 99 year sentence in March of 1969. -
Act of 1968
The Civil Rights movement took a huge dip once MLK was assassinated and lost steam until virtually ending over the next few years. This act introduced penalties for certain acts of violence & intimidation and provides equal housing opportunities for all races, colors, religion.
