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13th Amendment
This Amendment officially freed all and abolished all forms of slavery. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
It granted citizenship to blacks and gave them property and legal rights. -
14th Amendment
This Amendment was designed for overcoming Black Codes set by the South intended to preserve the enslavement of blacks. The 14th Amendment redefined citizenship and it prevented states from interfering with black citizenship.
It also includes a "due process" clause, meaning that the government must act fairly. -
15th Amendment
Passed by Congress, this Amendment prohibited the states from denying anyone the right to vote, in order to encourage black voters. However, this was met with the introduction of poll taxes, the grandfather clause, literacy tests, and violent intimidation that quickly stopped most blacks from voting. -
Civil Rights of 1875
Congress outlawed any sort of public racial discrimination, except in schools, churches, and cemeteries. It was later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court for trying to control individuals and was the last Civil Rights act until nearly a century later. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
In this landmark court case, the Supreme Court created the "separate but equal" doctrine with their ruling. This, in turn, began a new era of racial segregation. -
NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded with the intent of fighting for African American civil rights. -
Fair Employment Act of 1941
Issued by President FDR, this executive order stated that federal agencies only do business with private employers that do not "discriminate against persons of any race, color, creed, or nationality in matters of employment." -
CORE
In Chicago, James Farmer helped found the Congress of Racial Equality.
In 1961, they embarked on "Freedom Rides" to protest segregation, but were often met with violence. -
Brown v. Board of Education
With the help of the NAACP and attorney Thurgood Marshall, overturned the ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson and ended segregation in schools. -
Greensboro Sit-In
The first sit-in began with four black college students at a Woolworth lunch counter intended for whites, but were not arrested. -
Affirmative Action
This law came into power with Executive Order 10925, giving preferential access to minorities and women. -
"I Have A Dream"
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous address that detailed his hope for a better future for the oppressed. -
March on Washington
Organized by A. Philip Randolph, 250,000 people marched on Washington as a civil rights demonstration - one of the biggest in history - for better jobs, an end to segregation, and to support Kennedy's proposed Civil Rights Act. -
24th Amendment
This ended poll taxes and gave Congress the power to enforce it. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Signed by President Johnson, this outlawed discriminatory voting practices such as literacy tests and provided federal registration for voting, greatly increasing the number of black voters. -
Civil Rights Act of 1968
Signed by President LBJ, racial discrimination in housing was made illegal and gave protection to civil rights workers.
