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Jim Crow laws
The Jim Crow laws were laws put in place during reconstruction, a period after the American civil war. The laws were designed to segregate white and coloured Americans in a "seperate but equal" system. These laws stayed in place until the mid 60s. -
Day of mourning and protest
Organised by Jack Patten, (pictured) Aboriginies of Australia held a meeting in the Australian hall, Sydney on Australia's national day to protest the inequalities held between themselves and other Australians. This event is signifigant because it shows an desire for rights by the Aboriginies decades before the referendum was held. -
Brown vs Board of education decided
Two years after it was brought before them, the US supreme court decided that it was uncinstitutional to have segregation in places of education. It would be a few years until this was put into action all around the US. This event was signifigant because it was the first time the US supreme court had ruled against the 'seperate but equals' Jim Crow laws that had beeen in place since the American civil war. -
Montgomery bus boycott
After Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to yeild her seat, African Americans in her town of Montgomery began to boycott public buses for a year and 15 days until the laws were changed to force the intergration of the Montgomery bus system. This event was signficant because it was the first large scale demonstration against segregation in the United States. It was also significant for giving rise to Martin Luther King Jr., who would go on to be a major fogure in the civil rights movement. -
Little rock nine (1)
The little rock nine were the nine African American students to attend Little Rock High School in the 50's. These kids were the first African-American students to go to an all white state school and this sparked a commotion all over the nation. On their first day of school the students were meet by protestors at the front gates, the Arkansas Government decided to send the Arkansas guard in to help the protestors. -
Little rock nine (2)
The American government were outraged at governor Fabuas’ decision not to let the kids in, decided to send the 101st airborne, without its black members, to escort the students to school. The Arkansas Guard were also federalised and later ordered to protect the students. But while at the school the students were bullied and picked upon by the white students and teachers, one of the nine even left within a year because of the pressures that she was facing. -
Little rock nine (3)
The little rock nine had to endure three years of going to that school while under pressures from the students and teachers but also from the black Americans who were depending on them to succeed. -
Petition for referendum
There was an early petition for referendum, arguing for changes to the constitution that would later be passed. This event weas significant beacuase it shows that people had wanted a referendum years before one actually occured. -
Commonwealth electoral act
Aboriginies now had the right to vote in elections. It was still illegal to encourge Aboriginies to vote, or to make any laws concerning Aborigonals. This event is significant because is gave Aborigines the right to vote, which was an important right they had been deperived of untill that point. -
"I have a dream" speech
Martin Luther King delivered a speech to around 250,000 supporters at the Lincon memorial. King called for an end to segregation and racism in America. This event was significant because it garnered massive support for civil rights around the globe, and was a major part of convincing people to support the American civil rights act. -
The passing of the Civil Rights Act
The passing of the civil rights act was the outlaw of the discrimination based off race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin. The bill was called for by John F Kennedy in his civil rights speech in June 11th 1963. This movement gave all Americans the right to be served at pools, restaurants, cafes etc. As well as greater protection and the right to vote. The powers given were initially weak but got stronger after a period of time. -
The passing of the Civil Rights Act
The passing of the Civil Rights Act in Amerca was the most significant event regarding Australian civil rights. This is because it was actual legislation and not jut social movement. legislation is a lot harder to ignore that general soceital veiws. -
Freedom rides (1)
In 1964 a group of Sydney University students protested against the racial segregation that was happening in the United States, but several students soon realised that the racial problems were just as bad in Australia. So they planned a bus tour of coastal cities to try and raise awareness of the plight of the aboriginal people and try and create a better integration of the two cultures. They got media coverage of the tour and hired a bus. -
Freedom ride (2)
Charles Perkins, who was an aboriginal student from Alice Springs was voted the president of the SAFE (Student Action For Aboriginals) group. The Students also visited many Aboriginal communities and were shocked at the living conditions and stories that the Aboriginal people have to endure. When the Bus reached Moree the students were confronted with an angry crowd, they then tried to bring aboriginal kids into a swimming pool but the locals defended the old segregation rules. -
Freedom ride (3)
This was important for Australian Aboriginal rights because it raised awareness of the problem that many white Australians didn’t know. It also showed the racism that was still prevalent in Australia -
Gurindji strike
The Aboriginal workers at wave hill station began a strike that would last for 8 years. The strike started out as being about better wages and working conditions, but soon became focused on getting land that had previously belonged to Aborigines back into Aboriginal hands. The workers were led by Vincent Lingari. The strike was ultimately a major sucess for Aboriginal rights.
It is also the event that the Paul Kelly song "From little things big things grow" is written about. -
Referendum
Aboriginal Australians are now counted in the census. Laws can also be made concerning them. -
Martin Luther King Assasinated (1)
Martin Luther King was fatally shot while staying at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was shot from a neighbouring second-floor bathroom window by fugitive James Earl Ray. He had travelled to Memphis in order to support the African-American city sanitation workers on strike. -
Martin Luther King asainated
Despite this, many were inspired to continue the work of Martin Luther King Jr and preach nonviolence in the movement. -
Martin Luther King assainated (2)
This event caused civil rights sympathizers to mourn his death and silently march through the streets of Memphis, and also resulted in the King Assassination riots, commonly considered the greatest social unrest in the U.S. since the Civil War. This marked the end of King’s philosophy of nonviolence to advocate civil rights, as the efforts of the movement were rejected through his murder, and many became angry and lost hope in ever reaching racial equality peacefully.
