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Brown v. Board of Education (African American)
This case started because public schools across the country were segregated. This case was made up of many smaller cases all arguing for the same thing. The court ruled that separate but equal facilities are simply not equal (this overturns Plessy v. Ferguson) causing public federally funded schools to SLOWLY integrate. -
Little Rock Nine (African Americans)
After the law mandated schools to integrate nine african american teens,Ernest Green, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls, tried to go into Little Rock High School. The governor orval e. faubus ordered the national guard to surround the school refusing teens in. When Pres Eisenhower learned of this he commanded the federal troops to escort the nine into school everyday and to keep them safe. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) formed (Civil Rights)
Founded by Dr. King, Bayard Rustin, Ralph Abernathy, Fred Shuttlesworth and many other important civil rights leaders, the SCLC used civil disobedience to end segregation and fight for civil rights. They had some of the biggest shows of civil disobedience. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Formed
Student led organization that stood for nonviolent action against discrimination. Although Dr. King wanted them to be a part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference(SCLC); the students stayed strongly independent and spoke for themselves.
They did freedom rides and boycotts as well as being students(whoop whoop!) -
Chicano Movement Mural Movement (Mexican Merican)
A movement done by latinos throughout America where they used art, specifically murals, to display their heritage. They used art as their voice against suppression. -
Greensboro, NC Sit-ins (African Americans)
Four black students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University planned a sit in at a whites only lunch counter. Their sit-in inspired many more people across the country because they weren't some “big named guys” they were just students who stood up (sat down) for what was right. -
Freedom Riders (African American)
A group of both white and African American Activists who would ride in the whites only part of the bus and sit at lunch counters where they weren't supposed to at bus stations throughout the south. -
Dr. King’s: “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” (African American)
While in prison for nonviolent protests, (pastor) Dr. King wrote a letter describing the bigotry seen in Birmingham and defending the protestors. This letter included the famous quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” -
March on Washington: “I have a dream” Speech (African Americans)
250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in order to draw attention to inequalities faced by African Americans. Dr. MLK joined forces with another freedom fighter A. Philip Randolph to make this momentous feat. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Minorities)
Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This also applies to basis of hiring or firing (or promotions/ lack thereof) -
24th Amendment (Minorities)
This amendment abolished poll taxes and made it illegal to impose anything to keep american citizens from voting. -
March from Selma, Alabama (African Americans)
As many as 25,000 people marched a 54 mile route to encourage black people to vote and stand up for their rights. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965(African Americans)
Was signed into law by Pres. Lyndon B Johnson. It outlawed discriminatory practices to exclude colored people from voting. -
Cesar Chavez (Mexican American)
Started the UFW (United Farm Workers) He was a prominent voice in the fight for equality for latinos, specifically Mexican American farmers. They wanted better pay, better homing, better working conditions, and to unionize. -
American Indian Movement (AIM) ((Native Americans))
It began when 200 native americans came together to speak about the injustices done by society and the government including, racist actions, mass unemployment, poor housing, and reclaiming native lands. They opened the K-12 Heart of the Earth Survival School and marched on Washington. The CIA and FBI tried to squash the movement and started a siege that hurt and killed many, this only brought more attention to the movement. -
Thurgood Marshall appointed to the Supreme Court
He was the first black man and person appointed as the Supreme Court Justice. -
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated (African American)
Martin luther King jr was killed in Memphis Tennessee, his assassination prompted many violent riots due to the fact Dr. MLK never raised a hand toward anyone but was murdered violently. -
Sandra Day O’Connor appointed to the Supreme Court (Women's Rights)
First woman appointed to the supreme court. Important cases: Mississippi University for Women v. Hogan(gender roles),Roe v. Wade(abortion rights), Planned Parenthood v. Casey(abortion rights), -
Montgomery Bus Boycott (African American)
This boycott was sparked when people learned about the arrest of Rosa Parks. For over a year people of color stayed off public transport causing the city/ state/ country to lose money because no one was using it. A year after it started the supreme court ruled that segregation on buses was unconstitutional. -
Sonia Sotomayor appointed to the Supreme Court (Mexican American and Women's Rights)
She is the third woman to be on the supreme court and she is the first hispanic woman to hold that position. Important Cases: Obergefell v. Hodges (legalized queer marriage)