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President's Committee on Civil Rights
On December 5, 1946, President Harry S. Truman made the President's Committee on Civil Rights. This committee's purpose was to strengthen desegregation in America. (www.loc.gov) -
Truman addresses the NAACP
On June 29, 1947, President Harry S. Truman addresses the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). This was good because the NAACP is the leading civil rights organization. (www.historyonthenet.com) -
Truman Desegregates Armed Forces
On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981 that desegregated the U.S Military. Later on, it desegregated armed forces. (www.thegrio.com) -
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Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a court case that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and "separate but equal". The case ordered all public schools to integrate. -
Georgia Assembly Votes to Change Georgia Flag
The Georgia state constitution allowed the legislature to change the flag without a state vote. Debates are still going in why they changed the flag. Supporters thought that it was to mark the hundredth year anniversary, but many others thought it was to show opposition against Brown v. Board of Education. (www.georgiaencyclopedia.org) -
Rosa Parks Refused To Give Up Bus Seat
On December 1, 1955, a black female, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama. This event was the start of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. (www.theundefeated.com) -
The State Flag Becomes an Issue During The Civil Rights Movement
This was an issue because some Georgians thought the Civil War wasn't a proper symbol for a flag. By the 1980s, the legislature saw attempts to change the flag. This later became a dividing issue in Georgia. (www.georgiaflag.facts.co) -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference Is Founded
The SCLC is founded for the purpose of to work for civil rights for blacks through non-violent means. It was led by Martin Luther King Jr. and was headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. (www.newstalkcleveland.com) -
The Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee Is Founded
The SNCC was a student-led civil rights organization that contained high school and college students. They used non-violent methods of protest such as marches and sit-ins. The leader was John Lewis.(www.newsreel.org) -
The Sibley Commission
Ernest Vandiver made a committee to investigate opinion on integration. They had 2 choices: They could start following federal orders and integrate or to follow Georgia laws and shut down schools. Georgia would rather shut down schools than integrate. The commission was let by John Sibley. (www.georgiaencyclopedia.org) -
Atlanta School System Desegregates
Atlanta School System finally desegregates. This means that the school system accepts both black and white students. (www.southernspaces.org) -
Albany Movement
In 1961, there was a movement to desegregate Albany, Georgia know as the Albany Movement. This was organized by the NAACP and the SNCC. Nearly 500 were arrested during the movement including Martin Luther King Jr. The Albany Movement didn't result in immediate change. It was considered a failure, but organizers learned valuable lessons. (www.blackpast.org) -
John Lewis Was Elected To Atlanta City Council
In 1961, John Lewis was elected to the Atlanta City Council. This is important because he supported civil rights and was the leader of the SNCC. (www.achievement.org) -
University of Georgia Integrates
On January 9, 1961, the first blacks, Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter, are admitted into UGA. Hamilton Holmes became a well-known orthopedic surgeon, while Charlayne Hunter had a successful career as a journalist. (www.emaze.com) -
Georgia Responds to Integration
Georgia Assembly repeals laws that cut off funds for colleges and public schools that integrated. This means that the Assembly didn't fund schools that let blacks in their school. (www.nytimes.com) -
Martin Luther King Jr. Begins To Integrate Birmingham, Alabama
Martin Luther King Jr. begins to integrate Birmingham, Alabama because he called it "the most segregated city in America." Over 3000 people were arrested, including children. This pressures politicians to end segregation in Birmingham.(www.thedailybeast.com) -
March on Washington
On August 28, 1963, over 200,000 people from all races marched from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial. Their goals were to pressure Congress to pass the Civil Rights bill and advocate for civil rights such as fair employment, education, and housing. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I have a Dream" speech at the Washington monument. The march was considered a success because it encouraged the passage of the Civil Rights Act. (www.history.com) -
KKK Bomb Detonates and Kills 4 Black Children
On September 15, 1963, a bomb planted by the KKK detonates and kills 4 black children. This took place on 16th Street Baptist Church, and it was a major time when blacks and whites from the north and south came together to stop segregation. This event happened because the KKK was known for not liking black people and wanted to get rid of them. (www.nation.time.com) -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
On July 2, 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by Lyndon B. Johnson. The act prohibited segregation in all public places and it prohibited discrimination in hiring, firing, and promotion. It also gave the federal government the right to withhold funds from states that resisted the law. (www.history.com) -
Selma Marches
On March 7, 1965, people led 3 marches from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights in Alabama. Violence occurred at the first 2 marches led to National Guard protection for marchers. (www.thedailybeast.com) -
The Voting Rights of 1965
On April 6, 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Over a million blacks were allowed to vote. This act prohibited states from improvising any voting qualifications. It also prohibited states from denying citizens the right to vote based on race. (www.michronicleonline.com) -
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Lester Maddox As Governor
Lester Maddox was a segregationist in Georgia. He was famous for integrating his family restaurant and threatening to beat protesters with an axe handle. He refused to allow a state funeral for Martin Luther King Jr. and also refused to lower the flags to half-staff for the funeral. He surrounded the state capital with armed guards during the funeral procession. Ironically, Lester Maddox appointed more blacks to state office than all the governors combined. Later, he integrated the State Patrol. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Was Assassinated
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on the balcony of his hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was going to support striking black sanitation workers. Riots broke out in many cities, but Atlanta remained calm. This was due to the efforts of Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. and city police. (www.themillenniumreport.com) -
Last School System in Georgia Integrates
The last school system in Georgia integrates in 1971. This means that schools in Georgia will now allow black students. (www.americanprogress.org) -
John Lewis Was Elected By Georgia's 5th District to the U.S House of Representatives
On 1986, John Lewis was elected by Georgia's 5th District to the U.S House of Representatives. This was important because he was a supporter of civil rights and he being in this position would probably promote civil rights. (www.gettyimages.com) -
Barnes Flag Was Proposed to the Georgia Assembly
In 2001, a new flag was brought to the Georgia Assembly. It was approved by Governor Roy Barnes: it became known as the Barnes Flag. (www.huffingtonpost.com) -
Sonny Perdue Becomes Governor of Georgia
On 2003, Sonny Perdue becomes governor because he promised that he would let the people vote on the new flag, so many "flaggers" voted for him. Instead, the legislature chose the new design. The current flag contains the state coat of arms in gold, surrounded by 13 stars representing the 13 colonies. (www.georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu)
