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Plessy v. Ferguson
A Supreme Court case in which Homer A. Plessy stated that Louisiana's Law on segregation violated the 14th Amendment. The court ruled against Plessy stating that blacks can be segregated if its "Separate but Equal". This is important because this gave states the power to do legal segregation in every aspect of social live. Its impact is that it led to many famous events such as the "Greensboro Sit-Ins" -
Brown v. Board of Education
Topeka's Board of Education denied Linda Brown her attempt to attend an all white school because she was black. The supreme court ruled siding with Linda Brown because this violated the 14th Amendment. This was important because it overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling. This encouraged black students to fight for a better education and integrate schools. -
Murder of Emmett Till
Emmett Till a 14 year old African American from Chicago was brutally mutilated and killed by Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam after being accused of harassing Bryant's wife days earlier. Till was killed so barbarically that when his mother decided to have an open casket people were appalled at the young boys brutally beaten corpse. This was important because it helped shed light on the brutally of lynching. This impacted African Americans by giving fuel to the Civil Rights campaign. -
Founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King jr established the SCLC as a peaceful organization that fought for equality. He was successful in recruiting many followers because of his religion and because of his philosophy. This was important because the SCLC and MLK united many blacks under the same goal. This impacted the Civil Rights movement because many peaceful movements occurred such as the March on Washington. -
Little Rock Nine and The Central High School
The Little Rock Nine were a group of African American students who enrolled in the all white Central High school. They were met with an angry mob and the states national guard as instructed by the governor, President Eisenhower then threatened to send the federal army if he did not allow these students admission. This was important because it showed that Eisenhower supported integration. This impacted the Civil Rights movement because they had some government support. -
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
After getting off of work Rosa Parks was tired and caught a bus to go home, refusing to give up her seat after being threaten she was arrested. This caused Martin Luther King to start the Montgomery Bus Boycott (Dec 9,1957) eventually leading to buses removing sections. This was important because African Americans were standing up for themselves. This was an impact because this was one of the first successful peaceful protest in the Civil Rights movement it also inspired many sit-ins. -
Greensboro Sit-In
Four black students decided to peacefully protest and sit-in at a lunch counter in the white section. They protested for four days having others join they were refused service. This started a large chain reaction resulting in many sit-ins. This was important because black students united and peacefully and successfully protested. This impacted the whites because it showed how cruel they were to blacks especially when they did no one any harm. -
Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and Freedom Summer
The SNCC led by Ella Baker was an organization of students fighting for Civil Rights and played a significant role in the movement. The Freedom summer was led by SNCC in attempt to register as many African American voters as possible in Mississippi since they were excluded. This was important because it showed that African Americans wanted a voice and representation in politics. Its impact was that blacks were more encouraged to vote and led to voting act of 1965 -
Freedom Ride/Freedom Riders
The Freedom Ride was a Civil Rights where a bus full of members from Congress of Racial Equality and SNCC rode buses into the segregated South. Throughout the bus rides they practiced their rights but were eventually met by an angry mob and beat inches away from death. This was important because president John F. Kennedy noticed this campaign. This was impact because the Civil Rights movement had official government support. -
March on Washington
Many organizations marched on Washington having 200,000 young black and whites. During this march Martin Luther King gave his famous "I Have A Dream Speech". This was important because although they had a lot of participants the march was kept peaceful. This impacted the nation because of both black and whites fighting for Civil Rights. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, and religion. It was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This was important because the Civil Rights movement accomplished its goal. This impacted the United States because blacks finally got what they have been fighting for also because it applied to all minorities. -
Assassination of Malcolm X
Malcolm X was a leader of the Civil Rights movement and an influential individual, his philosophy led to the establishment of the Black Panther Party. Having an uncommon religion Muslim he was part of the Nation of Islam and when he left he was killed by radical followers of the Nation of Islam. He was important because he believed that blacks deserved their rights and they should get them by "any means necessary". This impacted how African Americans carried themselves he taught them not to fear -
Voting Rights Act
In 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. Thus outlawing any discriminatory voting practices used mainly in the South such as literacy test. This was important because more blacks were able to vote and not have to take a test or vote. This impacted the nation because African Americans could vote for representatives and other political candidates. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King was assassinated in a hotel in Memphis. He was killed by James Earl Ray who hated the Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther king was important because he achieved equality using peace and established many ideals within the African American community. He impacted America by influencing many blacks to better their education and fight for what they want peacefully.
