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First Importation of Black Slaves to America
In 1619, the first group of black slaves were brought to Jamestown, Virginia. -
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African-American History
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U.S. Constitution Addresses Slavery
The Constitution counted male slaves to count as 3/5 of a person, showing the subhuman status that slaves were given in early American society. -
First Almanac by a Black Person Published
At 60 years old, Benjamin Banneker was the first black person to have an almanac published. This almanac was highly popular from Pennsylvania to Virginia and Kentucky. -
Prohibition of Slave Importation
Federal law for the first time outlawed the importation of slaves in the United States. However, people continued this practice illegally for much longer. -
Founding of African Methodist Episcopal Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church was first organized in 1816 as the first black denomination in the United States. The denomination was founded by Richard Allen, a former Delaware slave. -
First National Negro Convention Held
On September 20-24, the first National Negro Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Led by Bishop Richard Allen, leaders of the free black society first met in secret because of the social dangers, but soon began open sessions. -
Harriet Tubman Escaped Slavery
In 1849, Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery and made it to free land in Pennsylvania. She later participated actively in the Underground Railroad, helping to get slaves from slave to free states. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin published
In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe had her book Uncle Tom's Cabin published. This book was very influential in both the North and South, increasing the tensions over slavery and helped to further the nation towards war. -
Dred Scott Decision
In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress did not have the power to outlaw slavery. Chief Justice Taney added that slaves were not citizens of the United States and therefore had no rights. This was a victory for the South, but showed the depths of the North and South conflict over slavery. -
Congress Allows Enlistment of Black Soldiers
Congress for the first time allowed the enlistment of African-Americans into the Unted States Army. About 190,000 African-Americans served and fought in the Civil War. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring all slaves in the South free. However, this proclamation did little to change the ways of the South during the war. -
Black Codes
Despite the freedom of slaves in the South, after the end of the Civil War, Southern states passed Black Codes. These, and later Jim Crow laws, restricted the rights of African-Americans. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment of the Constitution was also added in 1865 after the war, giving all males the right to vote no matter what racial background. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was passed on December 6th, 1865 outlawing slavery for the first time in the Constitution. -
Founding of the NAACP
In 1909, led by W.E.B. Dubois, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. This organization was dedicated to equality and furthering the rights of African-Americans. -
Brown v. Board of Education
On May 17, 1954 the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas that segregation in schools is unconstitutional. Many schools began desegregation, but it was a long, hard process. In the South, as with many past rulings on African-American rights, many states overlooked this and continued to be segregated. -
Rosa Parks Arrested
On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks sat down in the front of the "colored section" on a bus in Montgomery. When asked by the driver to give up her seat for a white person, she refused. She was then arrested. This act spurred the Montgomery bus boycotts leadng to the desegragation of Montogomery buses the next year. -
CORE Launches Freedom Rides
Mixed groups of black and white men and women began the Freedom Rides in 1961. The purpose of these rides was to test the effectiveness of the degregation laws in the South. Much violence accompanied these rides, causing the U.S. government to step in. Finally, the ICC officially desegregated all buses and bus stops. -
March on Washington
The March on Wahington was attended by approximately 250,000 people. Martin Luther King, Jr made his infamous "I Have a Dream" speech. The march spurred further U.S. government action over civil rights. -
Barack Obama's Inauguration
On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama became the first African-American president in the history of the United States.
