Civil Rights Timeline

  • 13th Amendment

    13th Amendment

    This amendment abolished slavery or involuntary servitude unless it was due to a crime. This was necessary following the Civil War in order to truly end slavery because the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery.
  • 14th Amendment

    14th Amendment

    This amendment guaranteed equal protection of the law for all citizens, allowed due process of law, and established the rights of citizens. The 14th Amendment is one of the most used amendments in court to date regarding the equal protection clause.
  • 15th Amendment

    15th Amendment

    The rights of citizens to vote shall not be denied by the account of race, color, or previous slavery. This was nullified later by Southern state governments during Reconstruction.
  • Tuskegee Institute Created

    Tuskegee Institute Created

    Institute created by Booker T. Washington, who taught African Americans job skills, such as carpentry, printing, brick making, and home economics that would help them in the field. This allowed African Americans to gain room in the socioeconomic ladder and allowed them to integrate into the culture.
  • Plessy v. Ferguson

    Plessy v. Ferguson

    This was a Supreme Court decision that upheld racial segregation by the "separate, but equal" doctrine. Jim Crow laws and public accommodations continued to exist and expand by attacking race.
  • NAACP Created

    NAACP Created

    The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was a group created in order to respond to the ongoing violence towards black people. This was the largest civil rights organization in the nation and pushed for multiple reforms.
  • 19th Amendment

    19th Amendment

    This amendment gave women the right to vote and allowed Congress to put whatever legislation needed to ensure that there is no discrimination in the voting process by sex. This was the culmination of many years fighting for women's suffrage.
  • Executive Order 9981

    Executive Order 9981

    President Harry S. Truman enacted this order that stated that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity in the armed forces with no discrimination based on race or sex. This allowed more African Americans and women to join to help the army.
  • Brown v Board of Education

    Brown v Board of Education

    This pivotal Supreme Court decision that ruled that separating children in public schools by race was unconstitutional and overruled the "separate, but equal" principle that was created by Plessy v Ferguson. This was tested in the Little Rock 9 as they were enrolled into school and was upheld by the national guard and federal troops.
  • Montgomery Bus Boycott

    Montgomery Bus Boycott

    A civil rights protest in which African Americans refused to ride city buses in Montgomery to protest against segregated seating. This is the first large-scale demonstration against segregation.
  • Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Formation

    Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Formation

    Another civil rights organization that helped stage the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was founded by many pertinent leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Part of the Big Five organizations that were at the forefront of civil rights.
  • Little Rock 9

    Little Rock 9

    A group of 9 black students enrolled into an all-white school. National guard and federal troops were sent to escort them and prevent discrimination against them. This drew national attention to the civil rights movement and tested the Brown v Board of Education landmark ruling.
  • Civil Rights Act of 1957

    Civil Rights Act of 1957

    Legislation that established a commission and division of the Department of Justice in order to investigate civil rights violations. This also authorized prosecution for those who did violate civil rights.
  • Freedom Riders

    Freedom Riders

    A group of civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into segregated parts of the South. this was to challenge the lack of federal enforcement of the Supreme Court decision of unconstitutional, segregated buses.
  • Dr. King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"

    Dr. King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"

    A letter by Martin Luther King Junior to respond to eight white clergy leaders, who were religious leaders at the time and criticized his nonviolent approach. the letter fought for racial equality and social justice in the law.
  • March on Washington "I Have a Dream" Speech

    March on Washington "I Have a Dream" Speech

    An inspiration speech by MLK Jr during the March on Washington that taught that all people are created equal and that people must fight for the future of their children. This helped inspire more movements that brought equality in the future.
  • 24th Amendment

    24th Amendment

    This amendment prohibited poll taxes from being instituted in any primary election. This was one of the last steps needed to take before everyone could vote without discrimination.
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Civil Rights Act of 1964

    This act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This was fairly successful as it quickly ended Jim Crow laws and secured African American rights to equal access.
  • Black Panters

    Black Panters

    A revolutionary organization that fought for similar rights that other activists fought for, but also had an ideology of black nationalism, socialism, and self-defense. They were different than other activists because they were willing to take violence if needed.
  • Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Proposal

    Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Proposal

    This was a proposed amendment that would guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens, regardless of sex. Sought to end legal distinction in divorce, property, and employment. However, it failed to pass because not enough states ratified it.