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13th amendment
-outlawed slavery everywhere in the United States
-that is also why it is important
-slavery became no longer legal in United States -
14th amendment
-defines a United States citizen
-protects certain rights of the people
-important because all people must be treated equally
-people cannot be deprived of life, liberty, and/or property -
15th amendment
-protects Americans' right to vote in elections
-no American can be denied voting rights based on race, color, or former enslavement
-important because guarantees voting rights to all male Americans no matter the race -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
-constitutional law case of Supreme Court
-upheld racial segregation laws for public areas under principle of "separate but equal"
-established justification on "separate but equal" laws -
Mendez vs. Westminster School District
-federal court case that challenged Mexican remedial schools in Orange County, California
-important because first case where school segregation was unconstitutional -
Brown vs. Board of Education
-landmark civil rights case delivered by Earl Warren
-Supreme Court declared segregated public schools went against Constitution
-important because overturned "separate but equal" principle -
Emmett Till
-fourteen year old boy kidnapped and killed for allegedly whistling at a white woman in Mississippi
-two white men arrested for murder in front of all-white jury
-men later brag about committing the crime
-important because opened people's eyes to see the racial segregation in world -
Little Rock Crisis
-group of nine African-American high-schoolers enrolled in previously white-only school
-were kept from entering racially segregated school
-attended after intervention with President Eisenhower
-symbols of difference between changing laws having to do with segregation -
Black students in North Carolina
-four black students in North Carolina sit-in at segregated lunch counter
-inspires others to do the same and starts many non-violent protests
-important because sit-ins were effective in integrated parks, swimming pools, libraries, etc. -
Freedom Riders (start date)
-civil rights activists who rode into segregated southern United States to test Supreme Court decisions concerning segregation and civil rights
-important because put pressure on federal government to enforce segregation laws -
Albany Movement
-desegregation coalition in Albany, Georgia
-first mass movement in modern civil rights era
-important because of King's involvement and because of what he learned to succeed later in Birmingham -
March on Washington
-over 200,000 blacks and whites gather around Lincoln Memorial to hear speeches and protest racial injustice
-important because intended to fight for rights of African-American for employment and liberty -
24th amendment
-abolishes poll tax that was created in southern states during times of Reconstruction so it was difficult for blacks to vote
-important because brings America closer to equality -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
-ended public discrimination of blacks and other minorities
-signed by Lyndon B. Johnson
-important because ended inequality as a law -
Selma to Montgomery March
-MLK leads 54-mile march to support black voter registration
-important because brought public awareness to civil rights movement -
King is assassinated
-King assassinated by James Earl Ray
-important because people lost hope in civil rights movement and started the King Assassination Riots