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Plessy V. Ferguson
Homer Plessy refused to sit in the colored people car and sat in the white people car instead and he got arrested. He went to court and sued but the supreme court decided that blacks were separate but equal from whites. This case upheld state racial segregation laws and set back civil rights for decades. -
Brown V. Board of Education
A colored girl named Linda Brown was kept from going to an all white school named Topeka High school. Linda's dad went to court against the board of education and the Supreme court overturned the Plessy V. Ferguson case, declaring that separate schools are not equal. This case helped sparked the American civil rights movement. -
Murder of Emmit Till
In August, 1955 a Black 14 year old boy named Emmit Till was brutally murdered because he was accused of flirting with a white woman. His white killers were tried for his death but the all white jury that was present during the trial acquitted them. His death pushed the civil rights moment even further as his open casket shocked and motivated them to. -
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus boycott
Rosa Parks was the infamous woman that refused to change seats and go to the back because of her color. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a protest (which is both political and social) that argued the policy of segregation. This was significant to the civil rights movement because Alabama's and Montgomery's bus laws were considered unconstitutional to the supreme court and buses were desegregated. -
Founding of Southern Christian Leadership conference and MLK
Martin Luther King Junior established the SCLC in 1957 to coordinate the actions of local protest groups in the South. He believed in non violent protests so the SCLC aimed to advance the movement of civil rights in a peaceful way. The organization successfully boycotted the bus system in Montgomery making buses desegregated. -
Little Rock Nine and Central High School
9 colored children were refused entry into the all white central high school in little rock because the mayor sent the national guard to blockade them from entering. The supreme court ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional so president Eisenhower sent federal troops to escort the 9 colored kids into the school. This event was significant because it forced all other schools to eventually get rid of segregation. -
Greensboro sit-in
Racial Segregation was common in Greensboro, so young African Americans held non-violent protests in restaurants at lunch counters. They sat in the white only section and were not served because they weren't in the colored section and they didn't move until they were beaten or arrested. Their actions significantly made others participate in these sit ins and eventually made restaurants change their policies relating to racial segregation. -
Freedom ride/Freedom riders
Freedom riders were people who impacted the civil rights movement greatly because hundreds of blacks and whites rode together on buses and trains, risking their lives. Most of them were beaten and killed as they journeyed into the south together challenging racial segregation along the way at lunch counters and white restrooms. This led to many people joining the freedom ride and eventually segregation was prohibited in buses and trains throughout the nation. -
March on Washington
In 1963 thousands of Americans gathered and protested in Washington D.C for their freedom and jobs and to bring up the political and social obstacles that African Americans are still facing. During this protest Martin Luther King JR gave his famous speech, "I have a dream". This event pressured the president to pass a strong civil rights bill in congress for African Americans, strengthening civil right movment even more. -
Civil rights act
The civil rights ended segregation in all public places and prohibited discrimination on the work force based on race, religion, language, etc. Congress, since then, have expanded the act and also passed more legislation aimed for civil rights for African American. Because of this act segregation was prohibited so many African Americans now had good jobs and were allowed to be with white people. -
SNCC and Freedom Summer
The sncc help held a volunteer campaign, called the Mississippi project, in order too try and get as many african americans that were eligible to vote in Mississippi. they did this because most blacks were still excluded from voting. This orginization was important to the civil rights because it set up freedom schools, freedom houses, community centers, and freedom to vote. -
The assanation of Malcom X
He was an african american leader who. Belived in violence only when necessary against whites who acted out in violence first. While in prison he became a member of the nation of Islam but over time he realized that it wasnt for him so he backed away from the religion and a member of Islam assasinated him. This was significant because many of his followers were influenced by his belifes about fighting back so they continued his legacy and fought for their rights. -
Voting rights act
This act secured voting rights for racial minorities especcially in the south. It also outlawed literacy tests against african americans so that they could vote. After its arrival this act significantly decreased racial discrimination in voting nation wide. -
The assassination of MLK
Martin Luther King Jr. Was a cicil rights leader who was known for his use of non violence and civil disobedience. He taught that murder couldnt stop the struggle for equal rights before being assasinated. By James Earl Ray at his motel. In Memphis. Martin Luther King Jr was very important the civil rights movment because he fought hard and he taught others to fight hard for their rights. -
Works cited
Www.History.com
Www.joefreeman.com
Www.ourdocuments.gov
Www.biography.com
Britannica.com
