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Declaration of Independence
The founding fathers signed the Declaration of Indepedance into effect which declare the U.S. free from British rule. -
Seneca Falls Convention
This was the first wemon's rights convention in american history. it was lead by Elizabeth Stanton and Lucrettia Mott in New york City. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was signed and it banned slavery from taking place in this country. It was the first step to racial equality. -
14th Amendment
Granted citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. and gave everyone the right to life, liberty, and property. Everyone has equalk jurisdiction under the law. -
15th Amendment
This gave african Americans the right to vote. This didnt work well in the southern states till the Voting Rights Act fo 1965 was passed. -
Colorado Gives Wemon the Right to Vote
Colorado becomes the second state to give wemon the right to vote. Wyoming was the first in 1890 and Colorado was the second in 1893. This is important to Civil Rights because once more states give wemon the right to vote the federal government will follow. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
A black man was arrested for sitting in a whites only train car and refused to move. The court declared seperate but equal was constitutonal. This was a step back for civil rights. -
NAACP is founded
This organization was formed for the civil rights of african americans. In its early years it focused on legal issues and was very influencial in making racial equality. -
19th Amendment
Gave Wemon the right to vote. This was the first big step for equality between sexes. -
Executive Order 10450
this order was put into place by Dwight Eisenhower to ensure the security of the country by discriminating against government employees with secrets that could be blackmailed. It urged that people such as homosexuals should not be hired because they could be blackmailed into giving information up to keep their secret hidden. this was a large step back for the country for the equality of homosexuals. -
Brown vs. board of Education
This was a supreme court case that unaminously decided that the segregation of school was unconstitutional. It was yet another step for racial equallity in the form of desegregation -
One, Inc v. Olsen
The supreme court ruled for the first time in the free speech for homosexuals. The magazine was no longer seen as obscene and could be shipped in the mail. This was a big win for the homosexual community because they now had the right to ship their magazine all over the country. -
Illinois becomes the first state to repeal its sodomy laws
This is the first state in which it is legal to perform gay activities. This is the first step toward eqal rights for the gay community. -
24th Amendment
Ended poll taxes which prevented african americans from voting. Poll taxes were invented to keep african americans and the poor from voting. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Ended seregation in public places and made employment discrimination on the basis of race, gender, or religion illegal. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The act was passed to prohibit racial discrimination in voting. it was amended five time to expand its protections. It was significant because it finally made it completely illegal not to let different races vote. -
Stonewall Inn Tiots
A group of protesters of around 1000 rioted in New York City and was dispersed by riot control. The protest was violent by the police and protesters themselves. The protest was fighting for gay rights because the people were tired of being harrassed by the police. This cause several groups such as the Gay Liberation Fron to be formed so it was sucessful for the movement. -
Title IX
This law was put into place which stated that schools had to put equal funding into male sports as they did female sports. This is important in equal rights between gender, it is also pretty controversial. -
APA Removes Homosexuality as a Mental Disorder
The APA removed homosexuality as a mental disorder. This is obviously a very big step for the rights of homosexuals. this obviously shouldnt have been done earlier. this step marked the point when homosexuals began to have equal rights. -
Don't Ask Don't Tell
This was passed to let gays and lesbians in the military. It prohibited openly gay people from entering the military but prohibited harrassment of closeted gays in the military. This was importat because it showed the governments stance on gay rights. -
Defense of Marriage Act
this act prohibited same sex marriage and the acknowledgement of these couples from other states. It was another step back for gay rights. It was partly amended later in 2013 but at the time it didnt help gay rights. -
Massachusetts Legalizes Gay Marriage
Massachusetts was the first state to legalize gay marriage. This was a huge step for gay rights and was important because it was the first state that offered equal marital rights for homosexauals. -
Don't Ask Don't Tell is Repealed
The legislation was repealled which allowed gays to openly serve in the military. This is important to civil rights because it showed the governments current view on homosexual rights and even though no federal law was put into place that allowed gay the government is working to that goal.
