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First Slaves Arrive in Jamestown, Virginia
The arrival of twenty slaves from West Africa began the quick spread of African slavery across North America, known as the Atlantic Slave Trade, which sent millions of slaves from Africa to the Americas. Previously, Spanish colonies aquired slaves along the east coast; however, this date marks the first utilization by white Americans of British descent of African slave labor. -
America Gains Independence from British Empire
American Indepence marks the beginning of the debates for freedom and liberty for African Slaves. During the revolution, African Americans, such as Crispus Attacks, fought against and protested British regulation, yet the Declaration of Indepenced instated on July 4, 1776, would not liberate the slaves. This leads directly to the Enlightenment, which challenged the rational and moral principles of slavery. -
Pennsylvania is the First State to Legislate Gradual Emancipation
Pennsylvania begins the trend of emancipating slaves, which eventually becomes widespread across the Northern states. For the first time, African Americans now have the opportunities, albiet limited, to organize their own schools, churches and communities. -
Nat Turner's Revolt
Nat Turner led the first effective rebellion of black slaves, which struck fear in the heart of Southern slaveholders, as the end resulted in numerous fatalities. -
The Fugutuve Slave Law of 1850
Despite progress in the antislavery movement, the Fugitive Slave Law was a major setback for African American freedom. Southern slaveholders were now permitted by law to go into Northern states to recapture suspected runaway and fugitive slaves. With little regulation, Southern slaveholders required little to no proof of ownership, and often apprehended ordinary and free black citizens. -
The Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott v. Stanford case was an event that greatly inflamed the controversy of slavery. The United States Supreme court, headed by Chief Justice Roger Taney, asserted that black people living in free states were not guaranteed citizenship or rights, and also that were, in fact, not considered free. After 250 years of black oppression, their efforts and fights for freedom were crushed. -
The American Civil War
Again, black hopes for freedom were re-awakened during the Civil War because this war would be the difference between freedom and independence or slavery and opression, sought by the Southern States. After much resistance, black men are able to join the war as soldiers to fight on behalf of their emanicpation and the prospect of the abolishment of slavery. -
Issue of the Emancipation Proclamation
After President Abraham Lincoln realizes that the only war to win the war and preserve the Union is abolish slavery, he enacts the Emancipation Proclamation, which effectively assured to freedom to over four million African American slaves held by Confederate states. Still, slaves in the some Union states and terrioty were not affected by the Proclamation, and thus, remained in bondage. -
Presidential Term of President Andrew Johnson
President Johnson's term is significant because, despite his claims of being a "Moses" figure for the slaves, he consistently worked against black freedom, vetoing The Freedmen's Bureau Bill and the Civil Rights Act. He was against nearly every plan for black progress. -
13th Amendment Ratified
The 13th Amendment outlaws "slavery and involuntary servitude" in the United States, and frees African Americans across the United States. -
14th Amendment Ratified
Despite the efforts of President Johnson, the Fourteenth Amendment was passed, which guaranteed citizenship to every person born in the United States, which, of course, included African American men, women and their children. -
15th Amendment Ratified
The 15th Amendment gave the right to vote to black men, yet at the polls, many tactics were used to keep black men from casting their votes, including poll taxes and literacy tests. -
The Ku Klux Klan Act is Put into Law
The KKK Act was a prominent measure made to penalize membors of the terrorist society, that had been using intimidation efforts, lynching and other violence, to scare African Americans away from pursuing civil rights. The Act led to thousands of arrests and the slight dispersal, not extermination, of the KKK. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Laws, mainly Jim Crow, centered on the idea of "seperate but equal" which fostered the segregation laws at this time. Black people were denied entrance into public placed populated by white people. Even though they were supposed to be considered "equal," black people often faced a lack of resources and opporunity, which essentially went to the white community.These tactics were reinforced by the court case of Plessy v. Ferguson, which furthe enabled segregation laws, despite their unfairness. -
The Founding of the NAACP
The NAACP was the first major and successful organization by black people that effectively challenged civil rights issues, such as black violence and discrimination. -
Beginning of WWI
World War I, was another war that yet again called into question the prospect of black equality and freedom. Black soldiers and the general black population offered little support to the war, as once more the United States was fighting for democracy, while denying equality and opportunity to its black citizens. -
Stock Market Crash of 1929
The Stock Market Crash affected all of the American people, but hit black people the hardest, furthering issues with their already limited opportunity. Many black people could not find work, lost their land and starved to death. The Great Depression that followed destroyed alot of black progress which had resulted in flourishing black professionals and black business. -
FDR Begins New Deal
President Roosevelt intended to better the black situation with programs from his New Deal. Yet, these legislations were significant because it set a bright light on the issue of racism in America. Many white people purposely kept black people from securing the aid given to them through the New Deal out of fear of black competetion and progression. -
Brown v Board of Education
The case of Brown v Board reversed the decision of Plessy v Ferguson, finally allowing black people the right to intregate with white society, allowing them access to more efficient resources and opportunity, beginning with the Amerian school system. -
Selma March
The march from Selma to Montgomery led by Martin Luther King Jr. was caused by lack of voting rights to black people. It resulted in the Voting Rights Act of 1965, but not without violence against black demonstrators at the hands of white citizens and police members. This event highlights the way that even with all of the progress accrued up until this point, black people still faced a long and difficult struggle to ensure equality and freedom in this country.
