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Declaration of Independence
This document was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, and edited by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, to establish a new nation and break away from the British Empire. The document was ratified on July 4th 1776 which is now known as Independence Day. -
Seneca Falls Convention
This was the first women’s rights convention. It was held to discuss the religious, social, and civil condition of women in the United States. It was held in Seneca, New York on July 19th and 20th 1848. This convention led to many other conventions which led to the improvement of women’s civil rights. -
13th Amendment
The thirteenth amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, unless it was punishment for a crime. It was passed by congress on January 31, 1865 and ratified by the states on December 6th 1865. -
Plessy Vs. Ferguson
This Supreme Court case was a major piece of history in the United States. It argued the fairness of the “separate but equal” doctrine. It was going on in 1866, and was turned down by a vote of 7 to 1. -
14th Amendment
The fourteenth amendment granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States. This included slaves that had been freed but still didn’t have rights. It was ratified on July 9th 1868. -
15th Amendment
This amendment granted African American men the right to vote. It stated that nobody should be restricted to vote based on their color or race. It was ratified on February 3, 1870 but it took over a century for it to actually be followed. Poll taxes, literacy tests, and other obstacles were put in place to keep the black from voting. -
Founding of NAACP
This was an organization founded in 1909. Its goal was to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all people and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. Its name stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. -
19th Amendment
This amendment granted women the right to vote. It said that nobody could be restricted the right to vote based on their sex. The amendment took 40 years to sign and ratify. It was finally ratified on August 18, 1920. -
Executive Order 10450
This helped define what security risks were. Previously, the criteria for defining a security risk was very political. It had a lot to do with assiciations of specific organizations. The executive order made it broader, on reliability, stability, and character. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
This Supreme Court case made it illegal to separate public schools based on race, and declared it unconstitutional. This case paved the way for integration, which was very important. It was a unanimous vote 9-0 on May 17, 1954. -
One, Inc vs. Olesen
This was a really big Supreme Court Case relating to gay rights. A progay magazine was being harassed and then declared obcene. The magazine sued, saying that it was unconstitutional. The supreme court ruled with the magazine, being the first time they had been supporting of gay rights press. -
Illinois repeals sodomy laws
Sodomy Laws were laws relating to sex. They usually targeted same sex individuals. Illinois was the first state in the United States to remove their laws. -
24th Amendment
This made it illegal to restrict anyone from voting, including banning poll tax. Congress also made it clear that they would enforce this by any legislation necessary. It was ratified on January 23, 1964. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This piece of legislation made it illegal to discriminate based on sex, race, color, religion, or national origin. It was signed into law on July 2, 1964 by Lyndon B Johnson. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act was considered to be the most effective piece of Civil Rights Legislation in the United States. It prohibited racial discrimination in voting. The act was edited five times to enhance the protection. It was ratified on August 6th 1965. -
Stonewall Inn Riots
The stonewall inn riots were a series of riots that took place in New York by the gay community. They were usually spontaneous and violent. The riots were in response to police raids agains homosexuals. These riots are known as one of the most important events leading into the gay and lesbian movement. -
Title IX
This is a portion of the Education Amendments of 1972 that stated that nobody should be denied participation or benefits based on discrimination for an educational program or a program that is receiving federal financial assistance. July 23rd 1972. -
APA Removes Homosexuality as a Mental Disorder
In the early 20th century, homosexuality was viewed as a psychological disorder. However, after extensive amounts of research and nothing proving it, it was removed as a mental disorder in 1973. -
Don't Ask Don't Tell
This law, passed by the Clinton Administration on February 28th 1994, prohibited openly gay and lesbian individuals from serving in the United States Military. It also protected closeted gay men from being harassed or discriminated against. It was lifted in 2011 by Obama. -
Defense of Marriage Act
This law basically stated that a state could refuse to recognize a same sex marriage that was done in a different state. It kept gays from getting the same marriage benefits as heterosexual couples. -
Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal
Don't Ask Don't Tell was basically a policy stating that openly gay people could not serve in the military. They were told not to tell anyone, and nobody asked them. If they were openly gay, they weren't allowed. This policy was repealed by Obama in 2010 which really helped the gay and lesbian movement.
