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Montgomery Bus Boycott
A physical and social protest campaign against racial segregation of bus transportation that began with the arrest of Rosa Parks when she refused to give her seat to a white man. African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama refused to ride bus transit until the U.S. Supreme Court declared bus segregation unconstitutional. The protest is regarded as one of the earliest mass protests of the Civil Rights Movement. -
Little Rock Nine
After school segregation was declared unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education, school districts began to diversify.
In Little Rock, Arkansas nine black students were met with an angry mob of white students, parents, and citizens determined to stop the integration, preventing them from entering the building. The event became the center of national debate about civil rights, racial discrimination and State’s rights. -
1960 Greensboro Sit-In
Four black college students staged a non-violent protest by sitting at an all-white lunch counter at a WOOLWORTH’s store in a Greensboro, NC. Sparked a sit-in movement that quickly spread to college towns throughout the region. Many were arrested for trespassing, disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace in the facility. Eventually Woolworth’s and other store chains changed their segreation policies. -
1961 Freedom Rides
13 African-American and White civil rights activists departed from D.C. on a series of bus trips to the South, protesting segregation in bus terminals. Riders used “white-only” restrooms and lunch counters, and vise versa. They both drew international attention & enormous violence from white protesters along their route. The movement expanded, other activists engaging in similar actions. By September 1961, the Interstate Commerce Commission banned bus and train station segreation nationwide. -
March on Washington
A march that attracted more than 200,000 participants at the Washington D.C. National Mall. Its' goal was to convince Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act and reiterated African American's desire for economic equality. This is when and where Martain Luther King Jr. delievered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. -
24th Amendment
The 24th Amendment states that no voter may be turned away for failure to pay a poll tax. It was significant because it gave poor African Americans as well as whites the opportunity to vote without having to pay taxes. -
Freedom Summer
Also known as the Mississippi Summer Project, civil rights groups such as the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) and Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) helped to register 1200 Afro-Americans to vote. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
We consider this event to be the most important in the early part Civil Rights Movement. A progressive bill passed to end segregated public facilities, as well as outlawing any discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or international origin. Instrumental in the fight for racial equality, the bill was signed into law by Johnson. It was the precursor in moving America towards equal opportunities. It did not end racial prejudice, however, it protected minorities from deliberate bigotry by law. -
Malcom X Assassination
Malcolm X was a major advocate for African American rights, but unlike Dr King and other advocates of nonviolence; he wanted rights by any means necessary. He combined his Muslim religion with the Civil Rights movement until he was eventually assassinated by another African American Muslim group. His assassinatin along with many other civil rights leaders' showed the oppression and forces that went against Black Americans. -
Selma Campaign
Three protest marches were held from Selma to Montgomery by Martin Luther King Jr to nonviolently protest the abuse of African Americans and their rights. It was significant because it showed the intensity and the seriousness of the issue of civil rights and was played out in a mature, nonviolent manner. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act outlawed racial discriminatory practices in voting. This included Literacy Tests and the Grandfather Clause put in place to prevent African Americans from voting. This greatly increased the political power of African Americans, particularly in the south, where non-white voter registration increased significantly. -
Civil Rights Act of 1968
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 allowed for African AMericans and people of other ethnic backgrounds to not be discriminated against because of their race, sex, or religion when buying or financing a home. This was significant because it allowed more people to get an equal opportunity within their community and to have a sturdy foundation for their lives. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination
Martin Luther King Jr’s death really shook the Civil Rights activist community. Since his nonviolent marches and inspiring speeches about the rights and freedoms of all people were so motivating and really propelled the movement forward, his death was greatly significant. -
Evolution of the Early Civil Rights Movement
From 1955-1968, what had originally begun as acts of peaceful resistance quickly transformed into larger, bolder demonstrations of discontent in the Afro-American community. Whereas peoples' absence was their power during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, sit-ins and marches were confrontational in their approach.
