Civil Rights in Government

13th Amendment

Dec 6, 1865

Abolishes slavery. Initiated with Abraham Lincoln, woot woot.
-Legislative

14th Amendment

Jul 9, 1868

States that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens. Any state that denied voting rights to males within the voting age could lose representation in the House of Representatives.
-Legislative

First Ku Klux Klan Act

1870

Prohibits anyone from discriminating voters based on race, color, or previous slavery. Allowed the Federal government to enforce the act with force. The 15th Amendment, but with federal force to ensure it.
-Legislative

15th Amendment

Feb 3, 1870

Forbids states from denying the right to vote to anyone due to race, color, or previous servitude.
-Legislative

Civil Rights Act of 1875

1875

Gets rid of discrimination in public accommodations and public transportations and receivals for land and water.
-Legislative

Plessy vs. Ferguson

May 18, 1896

Another Supreme court case. This was truly a set back for civil rights movements, because it ensured that blacks were "separate but equal". Essentially, it granted political rights and equality, and secured inequality in the social sense.
-Judicial

Executive Order 9981

Jul 26, 1948

Pres. Harry Truman issues Executive order that ends segregation in the Armed Services.
-Executive

Brown vs. Board of Education

May 17, 1954

Supreme court case that ends racial segregation in public schools. However, many schools stayed segregated regardless.
-Judicial

Little Rock Nine

Sep 4, 1957

9 black students are blocked out from integrating into Little Rock Central High School. Despite the previous acts that have made it legal for blacks to attend any public school, this one refused. Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower sends the National Guard to escort the students to ensure their safety and allowance into the school. The students are still harassed tremendously.
-Executive

Gov. George C. Wallace

Jun 11, 1963

Gov. George C. Wallace blocks two black students from registering at the University of Alabama as he stands in the doorway. This standoff remains until Pres. JFK sends the National Guard to settle it.
-Executive

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Jul 2, 1964

Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson signs this law which prevents employment discrimination. People shall not be discriminated on race, sex, religion, or nation origin.
-Legislative

The Fair Housing Act

1968

Also known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968, this act makes it so that people can not discriminate housing sales or the ability to rent housing. Also includes the prohibition of state governments to violate with Native-American constitutional rights.
-Legislative