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The first slaves brought to America(innercity.org/holt/slavechron.html)
A Dutch slave trader exchanged his cargo of African Americans for exchange of food. The Africans became a cheaper and plentiful version of the indentured slaves.
This was when the domino effect of discrimination began, It wasn’t the popular conception of a racial based slave system, which did not develop until the 1860’s. -
Gabriel Prosser(biography.yourdictionary.com/gabriel-prosser)
Gabriel was an African American slave leader of an unsuccessful revolt, in Richmond Virginia. With the help of other slaves he came up with the plan of a slave revolt. His plan was to take all control of Richmond by slaying all whites and establish a kingdom of Virginia with Prosser as king.
Prosser contributed to slavery, because he was a strong African American man who tried to take a stance, it’s just the other slaves were too scared and backed out on him. -
The compromise of 1850(www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/compromise1850)
Led by Henry Clay, Daniel webster, and John C. Calhoun debated this compromise. It consisted of five laws passed in September of 1850 that had to do with the issues of slavery. Clay wanted to resolve the conflict in the North and South, son on January 29,1850. Which abolished the fugitive slave act and slave trade in Washington D.C.
It contributed for slave equality abolishing slave trade and the fugitive slave act. -
Fugitive Slave Act(www.u-s-history.com)
Slave hunters were allowed to capture any escaped slave in any territory or state and were required to orally confirm before a state of federal judge that the slave was a runaway. A person hiding an escaped slave could be fined $500.
Though it didn’t contribute, if they were not found and kidnapped and drug to federal judges, they could be free. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected 1860-1865(www.history.com/this-day-in-history/abraham-lincoln-elected-president)
Abraham Lincoln argued against slavery while his opponent Stephen Douglas believed that each territory should have the right to decide for slavery or not. Lincoln lost the Senate race, but brought attention to the republican party and won their parties nomination. When Lincoln was elected, 7 states succeeded and the confederate states of America was established.
Abraham was one of the voices in the abolition movement and the fight to end slavery. -
Slaves escaping using the underground railroad 1831(eiu.edu/eiutps/underground_railroad.php)
The underground railroad was a secret system developed to aid fugitive slaves on their escape for freedom. The free individuals who helped runaway slaves travel towards freedom were called conductors. Fugitive slaves called cargo, the safe house was called stations, and routes called lines.
Those who did escape went to tell their stories of slavery, and helped others who were not yet free. This was a huge part in our countries history. -
Civil rights act passed (icrm.lib.unc.edu/blog/.../on-this-day-the-civil-rights-act-of-1866)
This granted full citizenship and the accompaning rights to all citizens no matter their race and color. The right to make contracts,sue,give evidence in court, and purchase/sell property.
The civil rights act being passed was a huge step for the fight of equality for African Americans. They were starting to see progress being made from the passing of the act. -
Black Codes established (www.history.com/topics/black-codes)
After the union won the Civil war, giving slaves their freedom, black codes came into place. Designed to restrict slaves activity and ensure their availability as a labor force. Many states required blacks to sign yearly labor contracts and if refused they would be arrested and fined or forced into unpaid labor.
This did not contribute to equality for African Americans, this brought back a form of slavery. They were said to be “free” but they were still under strict restrictions. -
General William T.Sherman 161(Civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/william-t-sherman)
Abraham Lincoln impressed by Sherman’s performance in his first battle and promoted him to brigadier general. He was sent to Kentucky to start the unions task of keeping states from succeeding. While he was there he said a comment about war not ending quickly and was replaced. By 1864 Sherman was convinced that not only must they defeat the Southern armies, but also destroying the confederacy’s material and will to wage war. He launched a campaign known as modern welfare, with success of command -
Fredrick Douglass 1841(www.fredrickdouglass.org)
Fredrick Douglas was born in a slave cabin, he went on to teach himself to read and write in 1838. Douglass was successful in escaping from slavery. Then in October 1841 he became a lecturer for the Massachusetts Anti-slavery society. Then went on to public speaking and writing and published his own newspaper, North star.
He escaped slavery and went on to be an uncompromising abolitionist and worker for Justice and Equal opportunity. He told the stories of all slaves, through his experience. -
The red summer riots(pbs.org/wnet/jimcrowstories_events_red.html)
The red summer is a reference to an explosion of race riots. In chicago on July 29,1919, a stone throwing fight began between blacks and whites. Over a youth of blacks swimming into white territory. When a white policeman refused to arrest a white man and a black man instead, racial tensions escalated. This had no contribution for the equality of African Americans. This shows how unfairly they were still treated still, and they were fed up with it. -
President Truman 1945-1952(historylearningsite.co.uk/Harry_Truman_civil_rights.htm)
In 1947 Truman started a drive to end discrimination in federal employment. Truman took over Franklin Roosevelt’s presidential position when he died, April 1945. He did nothing significant in the helping of blacks, even though he was all for their equality. In September 1946 he established a liberal civil rights committee to investigate increasing violence against blacks. Though Truman did not do too much for the equality of African Americans, but there was a lot of progress in the fight during -
Montgomery Bus Boycott(13d.cs.colorado.edu/systems/agentsheets/new-vista/bus-boycott)
On December 1,1955 a 40 year old black woman by the name, Rosa Parks, was arrested. For refusing to give her seat up for a white man on the bus. With her one phone call, she made it to the president of the NAACP in Montgomery, Alabama. Who called Martin Luther King Jr, and decided they were going to protest on the day of Rosa Parks trial. On the day almost the whole black community did not ride the buses at all. 66% of the montgomery bus riders on the buses were black, which hurts their income. -
Malcom X 1946(http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112391/malcolm_x.htm)
Malcolm X, was an activist and public voice of the Black muslim faith, he challenged the civil rights movement and the nonviolent pursuit leaded by Martin Luther King Jr. He told followers to defend themselves against white aggression. He changed his last name to X to signify his rejection of his slave name. Malcolm was an influential leader and he laid the foundation of the black power movement of the late 1960s and 1970s. -
L.A. Race Riot(http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/enc_watts_rebellion_los_angeles_1965/)
In a neighborhood of Los Angeles, racial tension peaked after two white policemen had a scuffle with a black man suspected of drinking and driving. As a group of people gathered around the scene, they grew angry because of the racially motivated abuse by the police. Which sparked a riot, they ranged over a 50-square mile area of South Central Los Angeles. They looted and torched buildings and beat up whites as snipers fired at police. It lasted 5 days of violence, leaving 34 dead, 1,032 injured.
