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Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy was arrested for refusing to move when he took a seat in the whites-only railway car. This event is significant because the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities. -
Brown v. Board of Education
A class action was filed against the Board of Education by thirteen Topeka parents on behalf of their twenty children. It was significant because the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. -
Emmett Till is murdered
Emmett Till was murdered for saying “hey baby” to a white girl. This event is significant because having an open casket at his funeral showed people the cruel reality. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Blacks boycotted because they were forced to give up their seat for a white person. This event is significant because after 11 months the boycott worked and blacks were able to sit anywhere they wanted to on the bus. -
Little Rock School desegregation
A couple of black students got harassed when they started to attend a white school. This event is significant because one black student was able to show everyone that it didn’t matter what color he was, he was still able to get his diploma. -
Sit-ins in Greensboro/Nashville
A couple of black student’s decided to do a sit in in front of a restaurant because they didn’t allow black people to sit in the cafeteria tables. This event is significant because this event caused the dinners to be open to everyone. -
March on Birmingham
Kids went to march at Birmingham. Policemen brought dogs and firehoses to end the protests. This event is significant because since people were seeing what was going on at Birmingham on their TV’s, it caused a significant amount of people to be upset and aware about what was being done. -
March on Washington
The march was held in Washington jobs and freedom. This event is significant because it was an important part of the rapidly expanding Civil Rights Movement. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
It was a landmark piece of civil rights legislation that outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, and also women. This event was significant because it ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools and workplaces. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Gave blacks the right to vote. This event was significant because it outlawed discriminatory voting practices. -
Martin Luther King Assassinated
While staying at the Lorraine Motel, Martin Luther King was assassinated by James Earl Ray. This event is significant because some black leaders continued King’s tradition of nonviolence.
