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Period: to
They All Had Dreams
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Apartheid Begins (South Africa)
The South African National Party, lead by Daniel F Malan and hoping to appeal to their white voters, promised to make laws severely restricting black rights if they win the general election. The National Party wins the election and apartheid officially begins -
The Bantu Education Act becomes in effect (South Africa)
The Bantu Education Act, a law that segregates black and white schools and created a seperate education system for each is passed
Blacks people in schools receive education focused on preparing them for life as members of the working class, since they aren't expected to become anything more than that. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott (America)
A civil rights protest during which African Americans refused to ride city buses in Montgomery, Alabama, to protest segregated seating. It continued for 381 days, beginning on the 5th of December and finishing on the 20th of December, 1956, and is regarded as the first large-scale U.S. demonstration against segregation. It ended when the U.S. Supreme Court decided to order Montgomery to integrate the bus system. -
The Little Rock Nine (America)
The Little Rock Nine were nine black students from Little Rock, Arkansas, who were enrolled at formerly Central High School, which was formerly an all-white school
On September 4, 1957, when classes at Central High began, Governor of Arkansas called in the National Guard to block the black students from entering the school
Later that month, the president sent in federal troops to escort the Little Rock Nine into the Central High School, bringing nationwide attention to the civil rights movement -
Sharpeville Massacre (South Africa)
While it was meant to be a simple demonstration about the laws regarding the passbooks in South Africa, after some demonstrators, apparently, began throwing rocks at the police and their cars, the officers opened fire on the crowd with guns, killing an estimated 69 people and injuring more than 180, with women and children being casualties
Reports of the massacre helped bring attention to apartheid and garnered international criticism on South Africa’s apartheid policy. -
Freedom Rides (America)
The Freedom Rides were a form of protest against segregation against segregated bus terminals, in which groups of white and African American civil rights activists took bus trips through the Southern American states in 1961
The protestors tried to use the whites-only facilities at bus stations in the states they travelled through. The riders were confronted by police officers as well as being targeted by white protestors, though this event succeeded in bringing national attention to their cause -
Indigenous people are granted the right to vote (Australia)
Though Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people did have the right to vote in some Australian states before the constitution was enacted, their right was taken away from them when the constitution came into effect. However, the Australian Citizenship Act in 1949 gave Indigenous Australians the right to vote in elections, but only if if they are enrolled for State elections or have served in the Armed Forces. -
Nelson Mandela is Arrested (South Africa)
Nelson Mandela, famous for leading the movement against the apartheid in South Africa was arrested in 1962 for illegally leaving the country, and was retried in 1964, being sentenced to life in prison for playing a role in politically motivated bombings. along with other African National Congress leaders. Mandela ended up spending 27 years in prison. -
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (America)
The March on Washington, the event in which Martin Luther King made his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech, occurred when an estimated 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The idea came about when A. Philip Randolph, who was planning a march for Jobs and King, who was planning a march for freedom decided to merge their ideas into one. This event had a great impact on America and the world, and helped Johnson pass the the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
The Freedom Rides begin (Australia)
A group of students from the University of Sydney, inspired by the Freedom Rides that took place in America, decided to undertake their own freedom ride, touring through many regional towns in Australia, showing Australians what life is like for Aboriginal people -
Bloody Sunday (America)
This march was given the name Bloody Sunday due to the brutality state troops inflicted on protesters as they attempted to peacefully march from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, the capital of Alabama.
It was lead by John Lewis, a 25 year old activist and Rev. Hosea Williams. Around 600 people took part in the march, and it the footage of the brutality was broadcast across the United States, sparking public outrage and increasing support for the civil rights movement. -
Referendum for Indigenous Rights (Australia)
Australians voted in favour of changes to the Australian Constitution to improve the quality of life for Indigenous Australians that focused on two specific sections of the constitution.
The first section specified that federal laws, which were designed to protect all Australians, didn't apply at all to Indigenous people.
The second section prevented Aborigines from being included in the national census -
Martin Luther King Jr's Assassination (America)
Martin Luther King was shot at the Lorraine Motel in, Tennessee on the 4th of April, 1968, at 6:01 PM, and died in hospital an hour later, at 7:05PM
His death lead to the signing of the civil rights legislation, as well as the fair housing act, both of which were major for the civil rights
The assassination of a man that preached non-violence lead to nationwide, and in death he became even more of a figure in the civil rights movement -
The first Tent Embassy is set up (Australia)
On 26 January 1972 four Indigenous men, aiming to protest the McMahon government, set up an umbrella on the lawn opposite the Parliament House in Canberra, calling it the Aboriginal Embassy.
The embassy could be found in numerous locations until it was set up on the same lawn in 1992 -
South Africa is booted from the UN (South Africa)
South Africa is removed from the United Nations due to the violence surrounding the apartheid, especially the Sharpeville Massacre, calling it a 'crime against humanity'
South Africa aren't allowed to rejoin until 1994, when the apartheid ended -
Uluru is handed back to its traditional owners (Australia)
On 26 October hundreds of people, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal attended the ceremony in which Ninian Stephen, the governor general at the time, handed over the deeds back to the traditional owners of Uluru, the Anangu people.
This was unquestionably a massive step forward for Australian land rights -
Australia's Bicentennial (Australia)
The Hawke government is presented with the Barunga Statement of Indigenous Political Objectives which was written on bark and had the words "We, the indigenous owners and occupiers of Australia, call on the Australian government and people to recognise our rights." Bob Hawke promises a treaty with the Indigenous peoples by 1990 in response, a commitment that was never fulfilled -
Nelson Mandela is elected president (South Africa)
After being released from prison 4 years prior, in 1990, Nelson Mandela runs for president in the country's first election in which both white and black people were allowed to vote, and wins the election, becoming the first black president in South Africa's history, something that wouldn't have even been a thought during the apartheid laws