-
Declaration of Independence
It announced that the 13 American colonies, then at war wth Great Britain, regarded themselves as thirteen newly independent newly independent sovereign states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. -
Seneca Falls Convention
It advertised itself as a convevntion to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of woman. In two days in Seneca Falls, New York, it was followed by other women's rights convetions. -
13th Amendment
Slavery in the United States is abolished as well as involuntary servitude unless as a punishment for a crime. It was the first Amendment passed after the American Civil War and sparked the beginning of the implementation of the Civil Rights movement. Although this abolished slavery, Black Codes, white supremacy violence, and other forms of dicrimination became a problem. -
14th Amendment
Citizenship for those born in the United States no matter what race was reaffirmed. Likewise, it declared that no one could take away the rights of these people because they are citizens. A well known portion of this amendment states "No person was allowed to be deprived of life, liberty,or property without due process of law" meaning that every citizen is entitled to fair judicial treatment. Lastly, this amendment garuntees protection under the law. -
15th Amendment
This amendment gave African American men the right to vote. However, because of literacy tests and other requirements made by southern states, this law didnt come into effect until almost a century later. These tests made it almost impossible for African Americans to be able to vote. -
Colorado becomes first state to grant women the right to vote
The amendment passed with support from the Colorado Non-Partisan Equal Suffrage Association, a grassroots coalition of women's organizations, churches, political parties, charity groups, unions and farmer's alliances. This was the first time in U.S. history that a state referendum had passed women's suffrage into law. -
NAACP is founded
The NAACP is the nation's oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, campaigning for equal opportunity and conducting voter mobilization. -
19th Amendment
This Amendment allowed for women to begin to vote in elections. In previous years, women were not allowed to vote and the change allowed for a wider spectrum of votes and audiences to speak their voice in government. -
Brown v, Board of Education
This court case began when black and white children tried go to school together. Acts of bullying and violence occurred when the first group of black children attempted to enter the school and, due to the court case, they were allowed protection when entering. -
Execuitive Order 10450
It revoked President Truman's 1947 Executive Order 9835 and dismantled its Loyalty Review Board program. Instead it charged the heads of federal agencies and the Office of Personnel Management, supported by the FBI, with investigating federal employees to determine whether they posed security risks. It expanded the definitions and conditions used to make such determinations. -
One, Inc v. Olesen
It was the first U.S. Supreme Court ruling to deal with homosexuality and the first to address free speech rights with respect to homosexuality. -
Illinois becomes first state to repeal its sodomy laws
It outlawed a variety of sexual acts, were historically universal. While they often targeted sexual acts between persons of the same sex, many statutes employed definitions broad enough to outlaw certain sexual acts between persons of different sexes as well, sometimes even acts between married persons. -
24th Amendment
This Amendment got rid of the poll tax which required for every voter to pay a fee. The idea was to prevent African Americans from voting because many did not have the money to spend on a poll tax. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act ended all discrimination of citizens based on religion, race, gender, and national origin. It ended voting restrictions and racial segregation in school. This bill ended all discrimination in public places. -
Voting Righs Act of 1965
The resolution, signed into law on August 6, 1965, empowered the federal government to oversee voter registration and elections in counties that had used tests to determine voter eligibility or where registration or turnout had been less than 50 percent in the 1964 presidential election. It also banned discriminatory literacy tests and expanded voting rights for non English speaking Americans. -
Stonewall Inn riots
The patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back against what had become regular, tolerated, city sanctioned harassment by the police department. For the first time in history Gay people refused to accept the status quo of oppression and stood up for themselves and, ultimately, the global Gay community -
Title IX
It is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. -
APA removes homosexuality as a mental disorder
This decision was a significant victory for homosexual activists, and they have continued to claim that the APA based their decision on new scientific discoveries that proved that homosexual behavior is normal and should be affirmed in our culture. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This court case brought up the controversial issue that black and white Americans had different areas to go in public whether it was the bathroom, water fountain, bus seat, or restaurant. After the ruling of the case, it was decided that each race should still have their own area, but the areas should be of equal quality and value. -
Don't Ask Don't Tell is repealed
It was the official United States policy on service by gays and lesbians in the military insituted by the Clinton Administration. -
Defense of Marriage Act
It is a United States federal law that allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states. -
Massachusetts legalizes gay marriage
In the case of Goodridge v. Mass. Department of Public Health, Massachusetts became the first US state to legalize gay marriage in 2004. -
Don't Ask Don't Tell
The law prohibiting gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the military is officially in the dustbin of history. It prohibited qualified gay and lesbian Americans from serving in the armed forces and sent a message that discrimination was acceptable.
