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Dred Scott Sues for his freedom
Slave Dred Scott unnsuccessfully sues for the freedom of himself, his wife and his two daughters. The United States Supreme Court decided 7–2 against Scott, finding that neither he nor any other person of African ancestry could claim citizenship in the United States. -
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The American Civil War
Several Southern states rebel against laws that declare slavery to be illegal.
-On April 9th, 1865 General Lee surrenders his army. This date is considered to be the end of the American Civil War -
Slavery is Abolished
Abraham Lincoln issues the emancipation proclamation on January 1st, 1863 freeing the slaves in the ten states in rebellion during the civil war. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
On Good Friday, April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth as a part of a larger conspiracy to revive the Confederate cause. -
Women get the vote
In 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed giving women in the US the right to vote. -
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The Holocaust
The Nazi party of Germany rounds up minorities and those that don't belong to their "perfect race" and puts them in concentration camps where they are subjected to cruel conditions and are eventually executed. -
Murder of Emmett Till
Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippi at the age of 14 because he was reportedly flirting with a white woman. The woman's husband and his step brother beat him, gouged out one of his eyes and then shot him. His dead body was found several days later in the Tallahatchie River. Emmett Till's mother insisted on an open casket funeral to show the world how Emmett was brutalised by these men. -
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat
While riding the bus in Montgomery, Alabama, 42 year old Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man. For this she was fined and arested. This simple act inspired millions across the United States. -
Affirmative Action is introduced
John F. Kennedy signs Executive Order 10925. Affirmative action was a movement design to promote actions to achieve non-discrimination. The goal is to get more minorities into the workplace. -
Assassination of Medgar Evers
Evers was a civil rights activist who served in World War II. He worked as field secretay for the NAACP until he was assassinated by Byron De La Beckswith. His death inspired many civil rights protests across the US. -
March on Washington
Organized under the general theme of "Jobs and Freedom", the March on Washington was one largest political rallies for human rights in the history of the United States of America. It was here that Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The number of participants in the march are estimated from 200, 000 to 300, 000. -
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy is assassinated during a parade by an unknown shooter. Although a gunman was arrested, much controversy still surrounds his death. JFK worked hard to push civil rights in America. -
Segregation ends in the United States
President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act declaring segregation unconstitutional. -
The Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act declares segregation in the United States of America to be unconstitutional. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
Civil Rights Activist Malcolm Little, known commonly as Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21 1965. Considered one of the greatest leaders in American history, Malcolm X seeked to end racism in a segregated America. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent Civil rights activist. At the March on Washington in 1963 he gave the famous "I Have a Dream" speech to a crowd of thousands. -
Homosexuality becomes legal in Canada
On June 27, 1969 the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968-69 (Bill C-150) is passed in Canada. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau helped this come into effect. -
The Case of Delwin Vriend
In 1991, Delwin Vriend is fired from his position because his sexual orientation is deemed incompatible with the religious beliefs of his place of employment. He attempted to file a discrimination complaint, but was refused on the grounds that sexual orientation was not protected under the province's human rights code. -
Assault of Rodney King
Following a high speed chase, Rodney King was brutally beat by several police officers in Los Angeles. When the police officers were declared innocent by the jury, it caused people to riot in the streets in outrage. -
First Country to legalize Same-sex Marriage
The netherlands becomes the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. -
Same Sex Marriage becomes legal in Canada
It becomes legal for partners of the same sex to get married in Canada. -
Murder of Trayvon Martin
George Zimmerman fatally shoots 17 year old Trayvon Martin as he is walking down the street in Sandford, Florida. It is reported that Martin was shot in an altercation between the two.
