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Civil War Ends/ Slavery Abolished
The southern United State were at war with the northern United States over the issue of whether or not slaves should be free. The Civil War lasted for four years starting April 12, 1861 and ending April 9, 1965. By the end the nothern states won the war and in the same year the 13th Amendment was passed whiched freed all slaves. -
Separate but Equal
The saying "Separate but Equal" came from the Plessy v. Ferguson case in which an African American man was arrested for sitting on the “white only” train car. The case went through all of the court systems and by the end he was found guilty. Justice Harlan who participated in the case stated that no rights were violated because the cars were equal in quality and the African Americans were receiving the same amount of privilege as the white citizens. So the phrase “separate but equal” was born. -
NAACP is formed
NAACP The NAACP was formed to proctect and look out for African Americans and their rights. -
Segregation in US Military Outlawed
President Truman outlaws segregation in the US military. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Linda Brown was an African American third grader who lived closer to a "white" school than her designated "colored" school. Her father took the problem to trial with the help of the NAACP and eventually won the case. The case did not end segregation but it was a ground breaker in the start of a change. -
Rosa Parks Arrested
Rosa Parks was arrested for not moving to the back of a segregated bus. Her arrest sparked a boycott and as a result bus segregation was declared unconstitutional. The Federal Interstate Commerce Commission bans segregation on interstate trains and buses. -
Freedom Riders
Several young people both African American and White Americans rode buses from Washington DC to the southern states to test the national ban of segregation within the transpotation system. When they arrived in the southern states they faced major violence but kept going. -
Leter From Birmingham
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for nonviolent demonstrations against violence. While he was in jail several clergymen stated that segregation hould be battled in courts not in the streets and King responded with his letter. A famous quote from the letter follows: " injustice anywhere is a threat everywhere". -
"I Have A Dream"
Dr. King addressed the issue of discrimination with his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. He had dreams of equality between all races and the ending of discrimination. -
Civil Rights Act Passed
Public discrimination was made illegal and the 24th Amendment was passed enforcing voting rights and getting rid of poll taxes. -
Voting Rights Act
Even though voting was legalized for African Americans in the 1870's it wasn't until 1965 when government stepped up to help make sure barriers were broke down that were prohibiting African Americans from voting. Some barriers included poll taxes and literacy tests which were difficult to pay or read since African Americans were often poor because they were recently freed and still faced discrimination. -
Black Panthers are formed
The Black Panther Party was formed as a group seeking to restructure American and to achieve equality. -
Dr. King Assasinated
Civil Rights leader Dr. King was assasinated in Memphis TN at the Lorraine Motel with a gunshot to the face by a man named James Earl Ray. -
Civil Rights Act of 1968
President Johnson passed the Fair Housing Act which prohibits discrimination in sale, rental, and financing of housing. -
Negro History Week becomes Black History Month
Negro History Week was founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson and he was considered the "father of black history". -
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an official holiday
President Reagan officially made Martin Lutrher King Jr.'s birthday a federal holiday.
