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14th Amendment
Forbids states from denying any person his life, liberty or property, without a due process of law. It was meant to protect the civil rights of all Americans regardless of their race or gender. -
15th Amendment
Gives colored people the right to vote in elections. -
Emmett Till
A little black boy whistled at a white girl and her husband kidnapped and later beat him to death. -
Executive Order 9981
Desegregated the armed forces, also allows equal opportunity. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
The supreme court decided that segregation between black and white schools were unconstitutional. -
Little Rock Nine
Nine students were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School. They were verbally abused by white citizens. Later they were transported by the army and had a personal body guard and went everywhere together. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
Dr. Martin Luther King brought together close to 60 black ministers and leader in Atlanta.The conference helped to form an organization that would address civil rights based on an agenda of “non-violence.” One of their first objectives was to desegregate thebus systems across the South. -
Woolworth Sit-ins
4 African American College Students decided to dine at Woolworth's in Greensboro, North Carolina. When the students asked to be served they were denied. After they were denied service they decided to remain in their seats. This peaceful sit-down helped the youth start movements that challenges inequality in the south. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
Started at Shaw University, this group played a large role in the non-violent activities of the civil rights movement. The students and members participated in the Freedom Rides and in the Sit Ins. They helped to raise money organize voter registration drives. -
Freedom Riders
These people rode interstate buses to bring attention to the unfairness of the bus segregation and to challenge law enforcement.The police were viewed as not supporting recent court rulings that made segregation of buses non-constitutional. Some of the first Freedom Rides started in Washington D.C. and traveled south to New Orleans. -
James Meredith
James Meredith is a face of the civil rights movement. He became the first black student at the University of Mississippi. He was a lawyer and civil rights activist and still lives in Jackson, Mississippi. -
Letter from a Birmingham Jail
A letter written MLK delivering a strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism. -
“Bull” Connor uses fire hoses on black demonstrators
Connor was one of the main racist people; he later fire hoses and police attack dogs to get peaceful African Americans. -
March on Washington
Martin Luther King gave his “I have a dream” speech under the themes of jobs and themes. Estimated 200,000- 300,000 people attended this speech. -
16th Street Baptist Bombing
One of the biggest turning points of public opinion in the civil rights movement resulted from the bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama. Four young black girls were killed and many people were injured. This helped to give further credence to King’s messages about non-violence. -
24th Amendment
Congress passed the 24th Amendment to the Constitution in January of 1964. This is 50 years ago this month. This amendment ended mandatory poll taxes. The poll taxes had effectively created an environment of intimidation towards African Americans, which had prevented many from voting or gaining political power, especially in the South. -
Murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner
Three workers were working in Mississippi to register black people to vote. They went to investigate the burning of the black church and were later arrested on trumped-up charges. After several hours the Ku Klux Klan released them and later beat them to death. -
Civil Rights Act 1964
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the law outlawed all major discriminations like racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, and women. -
Malcom X Assassination
Malcolm X is an activist, who supported the Black Muslim Faith; he changed the mainstream movements from non violent to violent. Malcolm X was later assassinated by Black Muslims. After his death, his bestselling book helped lay the foundation for the Black Power Movement. -
Civil Rights Act 1965
Piece of federal legislation signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson that prohibited discrimination in voting. -
Los Angeles Race Riots 1965
August 11-17, 1965
Was an urban rebellion lead by Fyre who had earlier been drinking. 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, 3,438 arrests, and over $40 million in property damage. -
Executive Order 11264
Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Executive Order 11246 saying that there are now requirements for non-discriminatory for hiring and employing people for jobs. -
Black Panthers founded
A group of six black men that practiced self- defense of small communities against the US Government. The fought to establish socialism in large masses of communities. -
MLK Assasination
MLK was a leader of the African-American Civil Rights movement. He was shot by James Earl Ray at a Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. -
Civil Rights Act 1968
This act was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson. This is an act that provided equal housing opportunities. -
Bloody Sunday
During the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association the British army took an attack on the civilians were 14 were left dead and 12 wounded. -
Voting Rights Act 1991
A statute passed by the US Supreme Court that limited the rights of employees who had sued their employers for discrimination. -
1992 Los Angeles Race Riot
April 29, 1992- May 4, 1992
A series of riots lead by Rodney King and many other African Americans. Many videotapes show multiple police officers beating Rodney King. -
Loving Vs. Virgina
An interracial couple from Virginia decided to get married, but it was illegal in Virginia. The couple drove to Washington DC, where it was legal at that time. The couple went back to Virginia where they were later arrested in their home, becausethey lived together. The couple went to trial to plead their case. The couple ended up with their freedom and also helped grantthe freedom for interracial couples to get married.
