You are not authorized to access this page.

Civil Rights Timeline

  • Literacy Tests

    Literacy Tests
    These tests were meant to prevent African Americans from voting and were almost impossible to pass. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Graphic-Representations-of-the-Literacy-Test-Scores_fig1_323446410
  • Jim Crow Laws Instated

    Jim Crow Laws Instated
    These laws were laws that segregated the African American community from being able to go to certain public places. Making it reject the Civil Rights Movement. https://onthebooks.lib.unc.edu/laws/the-laws-in-context/
  • Plessy v. Ferguson

    Plessy v. Ferguson
    Racial segregation laws did not violate the U.S. Constitution. “Separate but equal”
  • Shelley v. Kraemer

    Shelley v. Kraemer
    Racially restrictive covenants were unenforceable in the court of law.
  • Montgomery Bus Boycott

    Montgomery Bus Boycott
    Led by Martin Luther King Jr. where they refused to ride the bus for over a year.
  • Little Rock Nine

    Little Rock Nine
    Nine African American Students attended Little Rock Central High School. They were met by mobs, when they returned they were protected by U.S. soldiers.
  • Boynton v. Virginia

    Boynton v. Virginia
  • Greensboro Sit Ins

    Greensboro Sit Ins
    The Greensboro Four, African American Student, began the sit in movement that lasted for many weeks. And grew to different cities around the country.
  • New Orleans School Integration

    New Orleans School Integration
    Six year old Ruby Bridges had to be escorted to her school everyday, and was insulted and mocked by others.
  • Freedom Rides

    Freedom Rides
    African Americans and Whites boarded a bus in protest of segregated buses, and were firebombed in South Carolina, the riders were replaced every time they were beaten or arrested.
  • Birmingham Bus Bombed

    Birmingham Bus Bombed
    They bombed the bus because they wanted to resist what the people on it were trying to do. They were trying to desegregate buses and some resisted.
  • Governor George Wallace of Alabama

    Governor George Wallace of Alabama
    Stood in the doorway of the University of Alabama in attempt to black the admission of two African American students,
  • Birmingham Demonstrations

    Birmingham Demonstrations
    African Americans made many non violent sit-ins and protests. Many were arrested, eventually they were beaten violently and gained national attention.
  • Children’s March in Birmingham

    Children’s March in Birmingham
    Many kids skipped school for a non violent march and were met by police with dogs and fire hoses attacking them.
  • March on Washington

    March on Washington
    Peaceful March to protest civil rights abuse and discrimination. 250,000 people listened to the “I Have A Dream” speech.
  • Baptist Church Bombing

    Baptist Church Bombing
    Cooper released a bomb on 16th Street Baptist Church and killed four African American little girls.
  • Assassination of Malcolm X

    Assassination of Malcolm X
    He was killed while lecturing. But his speeches and ideas helped develop the civil rights movement.
  • Selma March

    Selma March
    Martin Luther King led many marches; the first two were met by guardsmen and some violence, but the third Kennedy sent protection for them.
  • Bloody Sunday

    Bloody Sunday
    Protestors peacefully marched on Selma Alabama, and were beaten and attacked. This makes the movement rejected.
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965

    Voting Rights Act of 1965
    Prohibits racial discrimination in voting. https://socialstudieslab.org/starters/2021/ 11/12/yst3xxod4236f1st086woklw8iwgd9
  • Watts Riot

    Watts Riot
    Confrontation between Watts police and African American residents. Resulted in 34 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and $40 million in damage.
  • Black Panther Party Founded

    Black Panther Party Founded
    After Malcolm X was assassinated they were founded.
  • National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders

    National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders
    Investigates the violent disorders that had erupted in several U.S. cities.
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Brown v. Board of Education
    Racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
  • Loving v. Virginia

    Loving v. Virginia
    Declared Virginia statutes prohibiting interracial marriage unlawful. After white man Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter, a mixed woman, had pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison.
  • Detroit Riot

    Detroit Riot
    Violent encounters between black community and police. 43 deaths, 7,000 arrests, 1,000 burned buildings.
  • Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

    Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
    Killed by a sniper while on the balcony at a motel in Memphis. His death inspired many, but the movements started shifting away from nonviolent tactics.
  • Fair Housing Act

    Fair Housing Act
    Passed in Martin Luther’s honor. Made it unlawful for sellers, landlords, and financial institutions to refuse to rent, sell, or provide financial resources.
  • Regents of University of California v. Bakke

    Regents of University of California v. Bakke
    Racial quota systems for college admissions were unconstitutional.