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Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an escaped slave that went on to be a prominent abolitionist and black activist. His impact was that he was one of the first African Americans to be heard and be an active member of the abolitonist movement. I selected him because he was the beginning of the evolution of African American philosophy. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision was the decision by the Supreme Court that Scott was not free because he lived in a free state and that he was not a citizen therefore he couldn't sue in court. This was impactful because it made the abolitionist movement stronger with the declaration that even freed slaves are not citizens. I selected this event becasue it was a turning point in the cause to eliminate slavery. -
Civil War
The Civil War was the war fought by the North and the South over the issue of slavery. The impact was that slaves began to participate in society normally in the North by joining the war effort and fighting. I selected this event because it is an extremely important event in African American history. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was the document that freed the slaves in the South. The impact was that this was the first time that slaves had ever been considered free. I selected this because even though no one was freed at the time it set the stage for a free America. -
Thirteenth Amendment
The thirteenth amendment was the amendment to the Constitutuion that made all slaves free. The impact was that the slaves were finally considered real human beings. I selected this because it set the African Americans on a long and hard road to equality. -
Black Codes
The Black Codes were laws put into place by southerners to restrict the rights of blacks. This impacted black philosophy because even though they were declared free their rights were still being taken away. I chose this because it shows that the whites were still trying to suppress the newly revitalized black population. -
Fourteenth Amendment
The fourteenth amendment to the constitution redefined citzenship to give any natural born person automatic citizenship. This was impactful because it set African Americans on track to participate in society even though they still had less rights than white men. I selected this because it was the first attempt to include African Americans in society somewhat. -
Fifteenth Amendment
The fifteenth amendment to the constituiton gave African Americans the right to vote. This was impactful because the blacks now had to become educated about politics of America. I chose this because it was the first time blacks could participate in government. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy V. Ferguson was a Supreme Court case that declared segregation constitutional. This was impactful becasue it made blacks want to start fighting for integration. I selected this because it started the idea that blacks should be integrated into the social society for blacks. -
NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was a civil rights organization. This was impactful because this organization set much of the civil rights philosophy into place. I selected this becasue it was the biggest black organization of the time. -
Malcom X
Malcom X was a prominent civil rights activist. His impact was that he represented half of the political philosophy, violence. I selected him because he was the figure behind the view that blacks should take any measure necessary to gain civil rights. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist. She was impactful because she portrayed the idea that every black person can take a stand and help the movement. I chose her because her actions were a turning point in the movement. -
MLK
Martin Luther King Jr. was the most important person in the civil rights movement. His impact was that he represented the peaceful philosophy to the movement. I chose him because he was the most influential black person ever. -
Civil Rights Acts
This was an act prohibiting the discrimination of any race. This made African Americans start to believe that they could really make an impact in society. I chose this becasue it was the first major victory for blacks since they were freed. -
Obama
Obama is elected President of the U.S. This is impactful becasue he is the first African American to be elected president. I chose this because it was ultimate victory for the African Americans and their political philosophy. -
summary
The African American political philosophy has evolved from being essentially nonexistant to being about social equality and civil rights to the basic democratic/liberal view.
