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Executive Order 9981
This order eliminated any racial discrimination in the United States Armed Forces and would then lead to the end of segregation in the Forces. -
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Civil Rights
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Brown vs. Board of Education
Helped overturned previous decision of the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson court case, which had allowed for "separate but equal" public facilities, in the US (Ex. public schools). Declaring that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," the Brown v. Board decision helped break state-sponsored segregation. It also provided a spark for American civil rights movement. -
Emmet Till
Emmet Till flirted with a married white woman and the husband and his half-brother kidnapped and murdered him. The body was found 3 days later in the river. The men who murdered him were tried and acquitted by an all white jury. Till's murder and open casket funeral galvanized the emerging Civil Rights Movement. -
Rosa Parks
Arrested for refusing to give her seat to a white man. Made many people boycott the buses and started the Montogomery Bus Boycott. -
Little Rock Nine
A group of African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School (white school) thank to the decision declaring all laws establishing segregated schools to be unconstitutional, and it called for the desegregation of all schools throughout the nation. -
SCLC
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s (SCLC) main goal was to advance the cause of civil rights in America but through non-violent means. The SCLC brought together all the strands of civil rights organizations and put them all under one organization. -
The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
Was formed to give younger blacks more of a voice in the civil rights movement. They became one of the movement's more radical branches. -
Greensboro Sit-Ins
Despite sometimes violent reaction to the sit-ins, these demonstrations eventually led to positive results. The sit-ins received significant media and government attention. The sit-ins made headlines in other cities as well, as the demonstrations spread throughout the Southern states. -
Freedom Rides
A group of 13 African-American and white civil rights activists launched the Freedom Rides, a series of bus trips through the American South to protest segregation in interstate bus terminals. -
James Meredith
James Meredith became the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi, but couldn't get in because the entrance was blocked so he wouldn't enter. Through the help of the National Guard, Meredith was able to graduate school. -
First Black Student
James Meredith became the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi. -
The Birmingham Campaign
A movement organized in early 1963 by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference(SCLC) to bring attention to the integration efforts of African Americans in Birmingham, Alabama. Led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and others. Eventually led the municipal government to change the city's discrimination laws. -
Letter from Birmingham Jail
The Letter from Birmingham Jail is an open letter written on April 16, 1963, by Martin Luther King, Jr. The letter defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism. He argues that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws, such as segregation. -
March on Washington
Organized by a number of civil rights and religious groups. The event was designed to shed light on the political and social challenges African Americans continued to face across the country. This day Marthin Luther King Jr, gave his famous, I have a dream speech. -
16th Street Baptist Church bombing
A bombing that killed four young girls and caused many other people to be injured. The outrage over the incident and the violent clash between protesters and police that followed, helped draw national attention to the dangerous struggle for civil rights for African Americans. -
24th Amendment
Prohibited both Congress and the states from conditioning the right to vote in federal elections on payment of a poll tax or other types of tax. -
The Murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael SchwernerRead more: The Murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman & Michael Schwerner
These three civil rights workers attempted to register black voters and were arrested by law enforcement. After being overturned to the KKK, they were beaten and killed. A link to law enforcement and the KKK was ruled in court. -
Civil Rights Act 1964
Ended racial discrimination in public establishments based on one's characteristics. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
A landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits discrimination in voting. -
Malcolm X Assassination
He had inspired blacks to self defence themselves against racism. -
Bloody Sunday
600 marchers were protesting against the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson and were attack by local and state police with billy clubs and tear gas. -
Los Angeles Race Riots 1965
The Watt's Rebellion was a race between riots and resulted in 34 deaths, 1032 injuries, 3438 arrests, and over $40 million in property damage. -
Executive Order 11246
The Executive Order prohibits federal contractors and federally-assisted construction contractors and subcontractors, who do over $10,000 in Government business in one year from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Executive Order also requires Government contractors to take affirmative action to ensure that equal opportunity is provided in all aspects of their employment. -
The Black Panthers
The Black Panthers were an African-American party, but would use violence to get what they wanted. -
Loving v. Virginia
This case was about a white man and black women who got married, Mildred Loving and Richard Loving, and went to jail for a year. -
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
The most prominent organization in the Mexican-American movement was founded on 1968. It took on many of the functions of other organizations. -
Civil Rights Act
This act extended the liberties and rights granted by the Bill of Rights to former slaves. -
MLK Assasination
Martin Luther King, who was an African-American civil rights leader, was killed in the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1991
This Civil Rights Act was the first effort to modify some of the basic procedural rights provided by law. -
1992 Los Angeles Race Riots
These riots contained lootings, arsons, and civil disturbance is the Los Angeles county of California in 1992.
