The Origins of the Lunch Counter Sit In

By kshoemaker004

  • Mohandas Gandhi born

    Mohandas Gandhi born
    Mohandas Gandhi was born in Porbandar, India. His father was the chief minister, or dewan, of Porbandar, and his mother was deeply religious, following Vaishnavism but influenced by Jainism, a religion whose foundation is based on nonviolence and self discipline. His parents would provide a foundation for his future acts of noncompliance through non violent protest.

  • Plessy v. Ferguson sets the precedent "Separate but equal"

    Plessy v. Ferguson sets the precedent "Separate but equal"
    In 1892, Homer Plessy boarded a rail car that was marked as White Only in Louisiana, who passed the Louisiana 1890 Separate Car Act. Plessy argued that this act violated the 13th Amendment, which banned slavery, and 14th Amendment, which provided equal protection under the law. The ruling determined that whites and blacks should have separate but equal public accomodations, and would be the basis for segregation for the next 50 years.

  • Gandhi Fasts to protest British government

    Gandhi Fasts to protest British government
    In 1932, Mohandas Gandhi began his first fast to protest the British government's decision to separate India's electoral system by caste. This act of civil disobedience was successful because a compromise was made between the highest and lowest caste. This fast lasted six days.

  • Irene Morgan v. Commonwealth of Virginia

    Irene Morgan v. Commonwealth of Virginia
    Irene Morgan boarded a bus in Gloucester County, Virginia to head to a doctor's appointment in Baltimore, a five hour ride. When a stop produced a white couple that needed seats, Morgan was told to move further back and refused. This led to an arrest and trial for refusing to move, and the case made it all the way to the Supreme Court. Her lawyer got the support of the NAACP to fight segregation on interstate travel.without citing the 14th Amendment.

  • First Freedom Ride organized by CORE

    First Freedom Ride organized by CORE
    The First Freedom ride took a group of white and African American passengers from Washington D. C. on a journey through four Southern states to celebrate the Supreme Court's decision in Irene Morgan v. Commonwealth of Virginia, which stated that segregation of interstate travel unconstitutional because it placed undue burden on commerce. The ride was coordinated by CORE, the Congress of Racial Equality.

  • Woolworth's Lunch Counter Sit In

    Woolworth's Lunch Counter Sit In
    Four African American college students entered their local Woolworth's at lunch time and sat at the counter which was reserved for whites only. Woolworth's refused service, but the students remained in their seats until close. They returned each day for the next few days, each time bringing more students who supported their sit in. They were inspired by the Freedom Rides of 1947 as well as the peaceful protests of Mohandas Gandhi against British rule of India.