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Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
Slavery in The Colonies and Pre-Civil War Era
Africans were brought to America as slaves as the country was first being created. Slaves were an integral member in the growth of the American economy, particularly the South, and made a vital trading partner for other countries. Slaves oftened performed harsh field work on plantations in the South, growing crops like tobacco and cotton. The slaves typically lived in squalid, horrid conditions. Slaves also fulfilled other duties like house and kitchen work. -
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Blacks Serve in Revolutionary War
African-Americans would have a larger impact on America's Revolutionary War than most people realize. Blacks fought on both sides during the war, and for different reasons. The British attracted the slaves of rebel colonists through Lord Dunmore's Proclamation, promising them freedom fro service. The Continental Army also contained small all-black regiments from Rhode Island and Massachusetts, slaves who had been promised freedom after the war or free blacks who woluntarily enlisted. -
Denmark Vesey Hanged for Planned Rebellion
Denmark Vesey had been a slave in the United States for many years, but unlike most, he was able to purchase his own freedom. Then he began planning an enormous slave rebellion from Charleston, S.C., but his plans were leaked before it could happen. Vesey and 34 other men were hanged, with many more arrested and convicted. Although the plan failed, Vesey was a hero to the abolitionist movement and would inspire future rebellions, like Nat Turner's. -
Nat Turner Leads Violent Slave Rebellion
A deeply religious man, Turner was a black man who had been enslaved in Southampton County, Virginia for his entire life. Following what he believed were messages from God, Turner led around 70 other slaves in a rebellion in which they killed nearly 60 white men, women, and children. The uprising was quickly put down, but it instilled a lot of fear in white southerners, as it was the most violent uprising to date. It led to more killing of blacks but also showed slavery as dangerous issue. -
Congress Passes the Fugitive Slave Act
Part of the Compromise of 1850, this act was one of the most controversial passed during the time period. It stated that any runaway or escaped slaves found, even in the North, would be returned to their masters. Many northerners did not like the act, but abolitionists vehemently opposed it, calling it the "Bloodhound Law" for the tracking dogs that were used. -
John Brown Leads Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown, a white man who stood strongly against slavery, decided to take action in 1859. Leading a group of 18 men into Harper's Ferry, Virginia, Brown intended to sieze control of the federal arsenal there and instigate a far-reaching slave rebellion. His plan failed however, and he would be captured and hanged for treason. It has been debated whether Brown was crazy or brilliant, but his actions drove the country toward civil war and brought slavery into the public's mind. -
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Blacks Serve in the Civil War
Unlike in the Revolutionary War, blacks who participated generally fought for the Union, as its victory against the South would mean the termination of slavery. Blacks served in multiple regiments during the war, and most of them were segregated but commanded by white officers. This was clearly meant a lot for blacks and inspired them to fight for their cause. Some of these regiments, like the 54th Regiment from Massachusetts gained fame for their will and determination in the war effort. -
Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Lincoln during the Civil War. It ordered that all slaves in rebellious Confederate states be forever freed, but did not emancipate slaves in border states. Although it could not be enforced at first, as the Union army invaded the Confederacy all slaves were freed instead of being returned to their masters. This was mostly a military order, but was a precursor for the Thirteenth Amendment. -
54th Massachusetts Regiment Storms Fort Wagner
One of the first official African American units in the Civil War, this infantry regiment saw very extensive time in combat compared to others. Commanded by white Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, this regiment was very influential in the war effort. They gained fame for fearlessly charging into the heavily guarded Fort Wagner, but unfortunately they would not capture the fort and suffered heavy casualties. They have a very strong legacy and their story has been told in the movie "Glory." -
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Post Civil War Pro-Black Legislation
The Union's victory in the Civil War brought about a flood of pro-black legislation. In 1865, Congress approved the 13th Amendment, which made slavery illegal. In 1866, Congress passed a Civil Rights law and the 14th Amendment, both protected the rights of blacks. In addition, Congress passed the 15th Amendment in 1875 in order to try to protect black suffrage. However, despite these measures taken by the Federal Governent, blacks suffered under "de facto" segregation and not treated well. -
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Lynching Becomes Common
Following the end of Reconstruction, federal troops left the South and the rights of African Americans were injeopardy and were unprotected. Lynching was the public harming and execution of someone without a trial, and through this time period hundreds of blacks were lynched in the United States, mainly in the South. -
Colored Baseball Teams Established
Although integrated baseball teams had existed since 1883, it was in 1887 when colored baseball clubs were established in six cities and baseball soon became segregated, blacks being banned from professional teams. This all started in 1887 because the Chicage White Stockings refused to play a team with George Stovey, a star black pitcher. -
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Migration of Blacks North 1890-1910
During the late 1800's and the early 20th century, African Americans who lived in the south faced heavy discrimination from whites. To avoid this, 200,000 African-Americans moved North. However, even in the North, the Blacks were not treated as equals to the whites and often lived in the same conditions that they had in the South. This is significant because many African-Americans had to adjust to a new way of life. -
A Blood Red Record
Ida B. Wells was a black activist whose offices in Memphis were destroyed and so she moved to Chicago. She mounted a national anti-lynching campaign and she traveled abroad to places like Great Britain. She published "A Red Record" in order to convey the true horrors of lynching and racism. In "A Red Record" Wells documents many of the atrocities committed by whites toward Blacks and how truly terrible lynchings are. This work is significant because it helped gain awareness about lynching. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Louisiana law requiring segregated railroad cars and found Homer Plessy in violation by sitting in a white car even though he was only partially black. The Court ruled that segregation was legal as long as the conditions were "separate but equal." -
Black Soldiers Fight in Cuba
During the Spanish- American War, much of the fighting took place in Cuba, which had previously been colonized by the Spanish. Of the large amount of American troops fighting, several thousand were black and the Twenty-fourth Infantry and Tenth Cavalry were regular army "buffalo soldiers" who had been transferred from bases in the West for the war. -
Scott Joplin Revolutionizes Popular Music
Scott Joplin was a young black pianist who would be one of the most famous and successful in the ragtime industry, a popular form of music during the Gilded Age that stemmed from black culture in the South and Midwest. In August, 1899, Joplin signed a contract for his new composition, "Maple Leaf Rag," that would earn him one cent for every copy sold. This was one of his most popular pieces and this contract would change the music business forever. -
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Formation of The NAACP and Niagara Movement
To combat the racism and poor treatment of Blacks, Black and white activists met in Niagara Falls in 1905 and held a conference. The members of the Niagara Movement, led by W.E.B Dubois, believed that blacks should be active in fighting for their rights. In 1909, Dubois and other members of the Niagara movement joined together with other activists and formed the National Association for the Advandement of Colored People. The NAACP legally challenged racism and helped many Blacks' lives. -
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Black Migration Northward During WW1
About half a million African Americans moved north during World War I and the majority of them settled into densely populated cities. Between 1910 and 1920, populations of blacks in northern cities like New York, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Chicago, increased rapidly by the thousands. This was significant because many of these black families would stay in these cities. They had the ability to migrate because factory jobs had opened up due to so many people fighting in the war. -
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The Garvey Movement
Marcus Garvey, an African American who moved to Harlem, founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914. He advocated for all things "black" and encouraged to return to "Motherland Africa" on his Black Star Steamship Line. A powerful orator, Garvey influenced thousands of blacks to join the UNIA. However, in 1923 Garvey was convicted of fraud and in 1927 he was deported with the UNIA collapsing. This was clearly a significant movement for blacks, although it saw little success -
Supreme Court Case Buchanan v. Warley
During the early 20th century, many Blacks were discriminated against and not treated equally. Some cities passed "Jim Crow" laws that segregated things such as schools, streetcars, cemeteries, and even residential areas. In the case Buchanan v. Warley, the Supreme Court deemed that residential segregation was illegal. This decision helped improve the lives of African-American and helped chip away at the racist ideals of the time period. -
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African-Americans Serve in WW1
During World War 1, enlisted African-American men served in a variety of roles. Most were mess-boys, laborers, and ship cargo handlers. However, some black men served in the 92nd, 93d, and 369th infantry divisions. These men played a key role in the Second Battle of the Marne and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. In fact, the entire 369th regiment was given the Croix de Guerre by France. Other individuals recieved commendation as well. Blacks gained respect and were proven to be valued during WW1. -
East St. Louis Race Riot
As many blacks were making the move northward during this time, racial differences became apparent in the north as well as the south. By the summer of 1917, thousands of previously southern blacks had settled into East St. Louis, Illinois. During a coordinated attack by a white mob on July 2, Black homes were torched and fleeing residents were shot, resulting in at least 39 dead blacks. This was significant as it showed that there was still a lot of racial prejudice throughout the country. -
Chicago Race Riot
Following the end of World War I, racial violence in America increased drastically. Some of the worst violence occurred in Chicago after a black child drowned while swimming in Lake Michigan because white kids had pelted him with stones. The city erupted into days of obscene violence, which resulted in 15 whites and 23 blacks dead, over 500 injured, and over a thousand homeless. This was one of the worst race riots of the time and showed how far away the country was from racial equality. -
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The Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural flowering in the black community, mostly based in New York City's Harlem, that became part of 1920s American culture. The area attracted many African Americans and during the 1920s black culture erupted becoming widely popular. African Americans like William Grant Still (black composer), Josephine Baker (singer), and Langston Hughes (writer) gained fame in Harlem and had a global impact. Things like Jazz music and all-black musicals were important to society -
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Scottsboro Boys
In 1931, eight black youths were accused and convicted of the rape of two white girls by an all white jury in Scottsboro, Alabama. However, in 1935, the Supreme Court ordered a re-trial seeing as the boys were not given legal counsel and there were no Blacks on the jury. Even though the 5 of the boys were again convicted guilty, the ordering of a re-trial was an act of equal treatment. The unjust conviction of these boys was just part of the poor treatment of African-Americans in the Depression. -
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New Deal Supports Racial Justice
The Roosevelt administration made many actions that supported racial justice. One such action was the appointment of African-Americans to policy level and judicial positions in the governement. Mary Mcleod Bethune was appointed director of minority affairs for the NYA. Also, Eleanor Roosevelt sat between the black and white delegations at a conference in Birmingham. Finally, the administration arranged for a black minister to deliver the invocation at the DNC. All of these improved equality. -
Marian Anderson Performs on Easter Sunday
In 1939, Marian Anderson, a black singer, was prevented by the Daughter's of the American Revolution to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C.. So, Eleanor Roosevelt and Harold Ickes made arrangements for Anderson to perform in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday. This is just one of the many symbolic that FDR's administration made in the name of racial equality. -
Roosevelt Issues Executive Order 8802
Following A. Philip Randolph's threat of a "thundering march" of one hundred thousand blacks on Washington if FDR didn't end discrimination in the armed services and defense industry, the president decided to act. He established the Fair Employment Practices Commission to monitor that discrimination was not being allowed in federal agencies, unions, or any company engaged in war-related work. -
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African Americans Serve in WWII
About 1 million black Americans served in World War II in the armed forces. They were no longer excluded from the marines and coast guard, but there was significant racial tension in the military as most divisions were segregated but led by a white commander. One of the most famous units in WWII was the Tuskegee Airmen, an African American flight division that fought in Europe. Millions more blacks also joined the workforce in factories that benefitted the war effort during this period. -
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"Double V" Campaign
During World War II, black leaders attempting to gain racial justice demanded a "Double V" campaign, to gain victory over fascism abroad and rascism at home. This movement led to an enormous increase in NAACP membership and the creation of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), which employed nonviolent direct action in order to desegregate public facilities. -
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Black Freedom Movement Abroad
America was not the only country where blacks were disenfranchised. In fact, the Civil Rights movement America helped inspire the opressed in other countries. For example, more than 30 African nations were able to either achieve full independence or a release from colonial bondage between 1960 and 1963. There were also liberation movements in the Carribean, Canada, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
This case was one of the most significant in America's history, when the Supreme Court unanimously voted to reverse the "separate but equal" doctrine of the landmark case, Plessy v. Ferguson. Chief Justice Earl Warren, appointed by Eisenhower, explained the opinion of the court, that they had found the segregated facilities to be "inherently unequal" and that they denied blacks protection of laws in schools. The Court called for school desegregation to proceed with "all deliberate speed." -
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
A civil rights activist and member of the NAACP, Rosa Parks gained fame by refusing to move on a bus so a white man could sit down. She was arrested, but under the leadership of an emerging leader named Martin Luther King Jr., a bus boycott was organized in protest. Blacks of Montgomery walked and organized car pools to stay off the buses, and the boycott persisted for over a year, until the Supreme Court finally ordered the buses desegregated. -
Desegregation in Little Rock
Although southern school boards were being forced to begin desegregation of schools, there was still a lot of opposition. One of the most famous instances of this in Little Rock, Arkansas, when the governor sent the state's National Guard to bar nine black students from entering. This prompted Eisenhower to send in federal troops to protect the nine students. This was proof that change would not come easy in the Deep South. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Founded
This organization, commonly referred to as SNCC, was founded by previous participants in sit-ins and other protests. This group stressed Martin Luther King Jr.'s strategy of nonviolent civil disobedience and local activism and leadership. The group's influence quickly spread through the South and SNCC would become very important for the civil rights movement throughout the 1960s. -
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The Birmingham Campaign
Birmingham, Alabama was considered to be the most segregated city in the South during the Civil Rights movement. To combat this, activists led by Dr. King organized non-violent marches, sit-ins, and pray-ins. These measures were taken in hope that the racisct whites would lash out and revert to violence(which they did), thus earning sympathy(which was earned). King was also arrested during the campaign and wrote the iconic "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" which outlined why equality was needed. -
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Freedom Rides
Organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), "freedom rides" through the Deep South were put in place in order to dramatize court decisions for desegregation of public transportation. Mobs of white southerners beat the Freedom Riders and burned their bus in Anniston, Alabama, and riders were again attacked in Birmingham, which gained the organized rides more fame. Southerners then beat riders in Montgomery with bats and iron chains, sparking widespread public sympathy for the riders. -
March On Washington and Doctor King's Speech
On a hot day in late August 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King and 250,00 whites and blacks marched on Washington D.C. The people had a hope of racial equality and were petitioning for Civil Rights. Dr. King gave a 15 minute speech in which he reminded people that despite the Emancipation Proclamation, Blacks were not free and needed to fight for equality. He sought brotherhood among Blacks and whites, and his speech played a role in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act1965. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Thanks to the efforts of individuals like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lyndon B. Johnson, and others, congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This piece of legislation is significant because it banned racial discrimination and segregation in public accomodations, outlawed bias in federally funded programs, granted the federal government powers new powers to fight school segregation, and created the Equal Oppotunity Commission to enforce the ban on job discrimination. -
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Race Riots
Between 1964 and 1968, many Black Civil Rights Activists turned violent. There were race riots in Los Angeles, Newark, New Jersey, Detroit, and others. The uprisings resulted in 200 dead, 7,000 dead, 40, 000 arrests, and 500 million in property damage. These riots were significant because they marked a shift in the Civil Rights movement; from non-violent direct action to violence. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act made using devices that deny people the right to vote illegal. It also allowed federal examiners to register disenfranchised blacks. This act is significant because the federal government took an active role in protecting Blacks' right to vote and it was a step toward ending de jure segregation. -
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Black Power Movement
Hoping for more immediate results, many Blacks changed from Dr. Martin Luther King's non-violence ideals to violent Black Power. Black Power preached black pride and autonomy. Malcom X was a major leader, he was a member of the Nation of Islam. Another significant Black Power group was the Black Panthers; they advocated self-defense and often used force to fight oppression. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on the balcony of the motel that he was staying at the day after giving his "Mountaintop" speech. Although his influence had begun to dwindle, he was still the most prominent leader in the civil rights movement at the time of his assassination. His death sparked uprisings and riots in black ghettos and started the turning point of the movement from dominantly nonviolent more towards violence. -
Barack Obama Elected President
Barack Obama was elected President in 2008. He was the first African-American to do so. This was a very significant event in American history and exemplified the journey that African-Americans had been on since the founding of America.
