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Brown vs. Board of Education
This court case ruled against "separate but equal" laws that segregated schools. It was the cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement. -
Daughters of Bilitis
This was an organization created to get civil and political rights for lesbians in the US. It's creation led to other LGBT civil rights campaigns being created. -
Emmett Till Lynching
Emmett Till was an African American who was lynched for allegedly offending a white woman. He had an open casket funeral that showed Americans the injustice that occurred, sparking protests. -
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Montgomery Bus Boycotts
African Americans refused to ride buses for a year in a boycott against segregated seating. This was the first large and unified civil rights protest, and was a direct result of Rosa Parks' efforts. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
This act prohibited the restriction of African Americans to vote. Up to this point, most African Americans were prevented voting privileges through de-facto racism. -
Little Rock Nine
In order to test Brown vs. Board of Education's ruling against segregation in schools, nine African Americans attempted to enter a white school in Arkansas. The governor, Orval Faubus, called in the national guard to form a blockade, which was dissipated by president Eisenhower. -
Greensboro Sit-In
The Sit-In was a civil rights protest where Black people would enter segregated restaurants and stay seated after being denied service. Many of the restaurants and other establishments where this took place were forced to change their policies. -
Freedom Riders
An interracial group of activists rode buses together throughout America, including in the Deep South. The bus was firebombed and the riders were beaten because of their efforts. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington was a huge protest by about 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial. It was the event where MLK gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. -
Demonstrations in Birmingham
The SCLC and the ACMHR pressured the city's segregationist policies by pressuring Birmingham's shops during Easter. It expanded the reach of civil rights in the US. -
Equal Pay Act
The Equal Pay Act attempted to remove the gap between men and women's wages. This act brought men and women's wages closer together. -
The Feminine Mystique
This book described the unrest many American housewives felt due to being stuck in their cookie-cutter lives without identity. It appealed to many women in the US and led to protests that expanded women's professional options. -
Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer was an effort to get African Americans the right to vote. It gained national media attention and led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
24th Amendment
This amendment prohibited Americans from having to pay a toll before voting. This was important because the toll limited poor Americans' capacity to vote. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against minorities such as African Americans and females. It ended segregation in public settings and was one of the greatest achievements of the Civil Rights era. -
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March on Selma
The Selma marches were a series of 3 protests from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama's capital. The marches went unimpeded and were successful. -
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The Black Panther Party
The Black Panthers were a group dedicated to reducing police brutality in the US. They did this through direct confrontation with police, often leading to fatalities on both sides of the conflict. -
MLK Assassination
MLK's assassination led to large riots called the Holy Week Uprising. It outraged Black Americans across the country and marked an end of the era. -
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Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall Riots were protests held in response to police raiding the Stonewall Inn gay bar. Stonewall led to organizations being constructed around the world to support LGBT rights. -
Equal Rights Amendment
This amendment would ensure equal legal rights to Americans regardless of sex. The ERA ultimately did not pass, but would have dramatically changed how the US solves legal disputes.