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Peoria Underground Railroad
As early as 1843, Peoria, Ill. had multiple underground railroad stops. One of the city's most famous "conductors" was Moses Pettengill. Read more about Moses Pettengill here. -
Abraham Lincoln Peoria Speech
In one of his most influential speeches, a newly Repuclican Abraham Lincoln spoke in Peoria, Ill. about the Kansas-Nebraska Act. As one of the final events leading up to the Civil War, and one which continued the divide among Northern and Southern ideologies, Lincoln rejected the act and the institution of slavery itself. Read more about Lincoln's Peoria speech here. -
Lincoln elected
Lincoln was elected as the United States' 16th president. He was quite open about Civil Rights and emancipation for slaves in America. Read more about President Lincoln here. -
American Civil War
t's unclear who fired the first shots on Fort Sumter, S.C., but the attack started the Civil War. Proactive citizens formed war companies in their states; Peoria had several. Click here for information on Peoria County Civil War companies -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclaimation at the start of 1863 while the nation still battled in the Civil War. Although the document did not intitate immediate freedom to slaves, it was a giant step in gaining basic liberties for blacks. Read more about the Emancipation Proclamation here -
13th Amendment
After years of bloodshed, fighting in Congress and discrimination on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line, slaves were finally freed with the 13th Amendment. Lincoln was already assassinated at this point. Read more about the 13th Amendment here -
Jim Crow Laws
Despite the 13th Amendment, African Americans faced Jim Crow laws in many states, North and South. The laws began in the 1880s and went on for eight more decades, essentially forcing segergation. The majority of Jim Crow laws in Illinois were applied in Chicago and were associated with housing. Read more about Jim Crow Laws here -
First Freedom Ride
The first Freedom Ride left Washington, D.C. for the Deep South with a group of both blacks and whites. The riders faced both verbal and physical abuse from Southern protestors, but sparked a trend in the nation. Read more about Freedom Rides here -
The March on Washington
After decades of legal segergation, discrimination and job inequality, thousands of African Americans and whites marched on the nation's capital to demand justice. A bus left from Peoria, Ill. full of teenagers to show their support for the cause. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the event. Click here for more photos of the event -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Act was singed under President Lyndon B. Johnson, and prohibitated discrimination "on basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin," a major step in King and Civil Right supporters' cause. It also ended Jim Crow laws. Read more about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 here -
MLK Assasination
King was assassinated in Memphis after years of contributing to the Civil Rights cause. Word of his death spread across the nation, sparking riots. Read more about MLK's assasination here
