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Slavery Comes to America
In 1619, a Dutch ship brought the first 20 slaves to Jamestown, Virginia. -
Invention of the Cotton Gin
When Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, the cotton industry grew rapidly, and with it, slavery became more popular than ever. -
Nat Turner's Revolt
In 1831, Nat Turner led the only effective slave revolt in U.S. history. -
Dred Scott v. John F.A. Sandford
In 1857, the United States Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens. -
John Brown's Raid
In 1859, John Brown raided a federal arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in order to lead a revolution against Virginia's slaveholders. -
The 13th Amendment
In 1865, the 13th Amendment officially abolished slavery in the United States. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
In 1896, Plessy v. Ferguson established that "separate but equal" was a legally acceptable policy. -
NAACP Founded
In 1909, a group led by W.E.B. Du Bois founded, and they named themselves the NAACP, or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. -
Harlem Renaissance
In the 1920's, African American culture exploded in popularity, and white audiences first took notice. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court desegregated public states in the United States.